Gauthier’s third-period surge sends Ducks past Rangers 4-1

Lead

On December 16, 2025, at Madison Square Garden, Cutter Gauthier scored twice — including a go-ahead goal in the third period — as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the New York Rangers 4-1. Lukas Dostal stopped 26 shots and Jackson LaCombe opened the scoring with a short-handed goal. Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves for the Rangers, who have lost four of five games. The result snapped Anaheim’s two-game skid and extended the Ducks’ road trip to Columbus for the finale.

Key Takeaways

• Cutter Gauthier scored two third-period goals, including a power-play go-ahead at 5:51 of the third, and an empty-netter at 19:38.
• Lukas Dostal finished with 26 saves for Anaheim; Igor Shesterkin recorded 22 saves for New York.
• Jackson LaCombe’s short-handed goal at 7:18 of the second came six seconds after a Rangers 5-on-3 opportunity ended.
• Anaheim improved to 20-12-1 and moved to 2-2-0 through four games of a five-game road trip.
• New York fell to 16-14-4, dropping four of five (1-2-2) and posting a 4-9-3 home record, held to one goal or fewer in nine of 16 home games.
• Jacob Trouba, playing his first game back at MSG since the Dec. 6, 2024 trade, assisted on LaCombe’s short-handed goal.
• Mika Zibanejad was a healthy scratch after missing a team meeting Monday morning; coach Mike Sullivan cited team expectations.

Background

The matchup came as both clubs navigate post-trade roster shifts and compressed schedules. Anaheim acquired Jacob Trouba on Dec. 6, 2024, and Chris Kreider was traded to the Ducks on June 12, creating added storylines when both appeared at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers had shown video tributes to Trouba and Kreider before the game, marking each player’s first return to MSG since the moves.

Anaheim entered the contest seeking to halt a two-game skid and stabilize a five-game road swing that would conclude in Columbus on Tuesday. New York, meanwhile, was struggling at home where it has been held to one or fewer goals nine times through 16 games — a key factor in the club’s inconsistent results this season. The teams carry contrasting special-teams narratives into the matchup: the Ducks have leaned on opportunistic power-play finishes while the Rangers’ power play has been uneven.

Main Event

The Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the second period when Jacob Trouba cleared the defensive zone during a penalty kill and Ryan Poehling drove the net, producing a rebound that Jackson LaCombe tucked home at 7:18. The short-handed tally followed a 5-on-3 Rangers advantage and two dramatic saves by Dostal moments earlier.

New York answered before the second intermission when Matthew Robertson’s shot deflected into the net. Officials reviewed the play and determined the puck bounced off Dostal into the goal, tying the game 1-1 at 16:18.

In the third period, Beckett Sennecke entered the zone on the right and slid a pass across to Cutter Gauthier, who finished from above the left hash marks on the power play at 5:51 to make it 2-1. Gauthier later sealed the outcome with an empty-net goal at 19:38; Pavel Mintyukov added a late score with Shesterkin off for an extra attacker at 19:57 to set the final at 4-1.

Goaltending and special teams shaped the game: Dostal’s timely stops on a scramble triggered the Ducks’ short-handed chance, while the Ducks’ power play converted once at a crucial moment. Shesterkin kept New York in the game with several saves, but the Rangers couldn’t generate the late surge needed to overcome the third-period deficit.

Analysis & Implications

Cutter Gauthier’s third-period touch underscores his growing role as a game-breaker for Anaheim. His shot — which he said he refined at morning skate work with development coach Julien Tremblay — was decisive on the power play and again on the empty net. Consistent finishing from players like Gauthier turns tight games into clear wins and supports the Ducks’ push for higher seeding.

For New York, the loss highlights persistent special-teams and scoring reliability issues. Captain J.T. Miller noted the penalty kill held up well overall but the power play lacked bite; those inconsistencies have contributed to a 4-9-3 home record and multiple low-output nights. If the Rangers are to steadier climb the standings they will need improved conversion and more secondary scoring.

The Trouba and Kreider storylines add an emotional layer that can affect team dynamics. Trouba assisted on a short-handed goal against his former club in his first MSG return, while Kreider described initial disorientation facing his old team. Such narratives can sway momentum in single games, but long-term effects depend on how each team integrates recent acquisitions.

Looking ahead, Anaheim can take confidence from a timely win that halts a skid and preserves road-trip point opportunities. New York must address meeting and accountability standards publicly referenced by coach Mike Sullivan and translate leadership expectations into on-ice responses, especially at home.

Comparison & Data

The table shows the primary game-level statistics that defined the outcome: Anaheim’s two-goal surge in the third and timely special-teams play versus New York’s lone tally and steady goaltending. Across 16 home games, the Rangers have been limited to one goal or fewer nine times, a trend that correlates with recent losses. For Anaheim, a 2-2-0 mark through four road-trip games keeps the club competitive on the trip’s final night.

Reactions & Quotes

Coach Joel Quenneville framed the win as a needed response after consecutive losses, emphasizing simplicity and urgency in approach.

“We talked about, ‘Hey, we’ve got to get some points here.’ You lose two games, it’s almost like you’re giving away everything.”

Joel Quenneville, Ducks head coach

Quenneville credited a more direct gameplan and his players’ willingness to execute, calling the victory a major response that helps the team regain momentum on the road.

Chris Kreider described the emotional challenge of facing his former teammates and the unusual feeling of returning to Madison Square Garden in opposing colors.

“It was a little weird…it took me a couple of shifts to remember the guys in blue weren’t my teammates.”

Chris Kreider, Ducks forward (formerly of Rangers)

Kreider said adrenaline and nerves affected his opening shifts but expects familiarity to fade with more games against his old club. His presence added narrative weight but did not alter the competitive balance of the contest.

Rangers captain J.T. Miller pointed to special teams as a deciding factor and noted the power play’s failure to capitalize at critical moments.

“The penalty kill was really good today…The power play wasn’t sharp enough, and we gave one up, so that’s the game.”

J.T. Miller, Rangers captain

Miller’s remarks underlined New York’s need to convert on the man advantage and avoid game-turning penalties; the captain framed the loss as a special-teams shortfall rather than a breakdown in structure.

Unconfirmed

• The specific details of why Mika Zibanejad missed the team meeting and was a healthy scratch were not disclosed by the Rangers; the club cited internal expectations but did not provide public specifics.
• Any long-term locker-room impact from the Dec. 6, 2024 trade of Jacob Trouba or the June 12 trade of Chris Kreider has not been independently quantified and remains subject to team evaluations.

Bottom Line

Anaheim’s 4-1 win at Madison Square Garden was defined by timely finishing, a standout third period from Cutter Gauthier, and dependable goaltending from Lukas Dostal. The Ducks halted a two-game slide and preserved momentum heading into the final game of their road trip in Columbus.

For the Rangers, the loss exposes recurring offensive inconsistency at home and underscores the importance of special teams execution. New York must address power-play production and internal accountability conversations if it hopes to stabilize results over the next stretch of the schedule.

Sources

• NHL.com (game recap, media)