Chris Kreider contributed a goal and three assists as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6-5 in a shootout at Honda Center on Friday. The Ducks, who have now won seven of their last eight games, recovered after losing a late lead to secure the victory in six rounds of the shootout.
Cutter Gauthier, Leo Carlsson, and Jackson LaCombe each recorded a goal and an assist for Anaheim. Jacob Trouba added two assists, while goaltender Lukas Dostal made 23 saves and stopped five out of six attempts during the shootout. Gauthier and Alex Killorn scored for Anaheim in the tiebreaker.
For Montreal, Cole Caufield had two goals and an assist. Lane Hutson posted a goal with two assists, Nick Suzuki finished with a goal and an assist, while Juraj Slafkovsky and Noah Dobson each provided two assists. Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault stopped 28 shots.
Kreider tied the game at 5-5 by deflecting a shot into the net with 42 seconds remaining in regulation after Dostal was pulled for an extra attacker.
The Canadiens had taken control earlier in the third period by scoring three times within four minutes and twenty-three seconds. Caufield cut Anaheim’s lead to one with a one-timer from the left circle at 8:41. Alexandre Carrier tied it up at 11:47 with a shot from inside the right circle. Caufield then redirected Dobson’s shot from close range to put Montreal ahead 5-4 at 13:04.
Both teams found offense early in the game. A potential opening goal by Trouba for Anaheim was disallowed due to Kreider being offside following a coaches’ challenge. Gauthier responded quickly, scoring just 39 seconds into play to give Anaheim a brief lead—his sixth goal over his last four games.
Montreal answered almost immediately when Suzuki scored from the right hash marks at 1:01 to tie it up. Hutson gave Montreal its first lead during their initial power play, scoring from high in the slot at 3:33.
Anaheim leveled things again when Radko Gudas’ one-timer deflected off Montembeault’s glove into the net at 11:56 of the first period. LaCombe scored on a power play midway through the second period to make it 3-2 Ducks heading into intermission.
Carlsson extended Anaheim’s advantage early in the third period before Montreal’s surge set up Kreider’s tying goal late in regulation.
