The Anaheim Ducks are heading north of the border for a rapid-fire Canadian road swing following a dramatic multi-goal comeback victory at home, as the Orange County Register reported.
Anaheim pulled off a major turnaround in their recent outing against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, pouring on six consecutive goals to earn the win. Four of those tallies came on the power play, wiping away an early deficit. The victory marked the team's second straight multi-goal comeback win, mirroring a style of play the Ducks specialized in last season when they competed alongside the Montreal Canadiens for the most come-from-behind wins in the NHL. However, giving up early leads has also contributed to the majority of Anaheim's losses this season.
Forward Cutter Gauthier emphasized the team's mindset during long games, telling the Orange County Register that the team needs to maintain belief and execute a simple style of hockey. Gauthier recorded a hat trick during Sunday's victory, bringing his total to five goals over his past two appearances.
Sunday’s offensive surge was powered by a mix of high-profile stars and emerging talent. Center Leo Carlsson, who signed an $18 million annual average value contract extension during the offseason, notched three assists against Ottawa. That performance gave Carlsson four consecutive games with at least two points, bringing his total to 10 points over that four-game stretch. Moving into the week, Carlsson held sole possession of third place in the league in assists and was tied for seventh in the overall Art Ross Trophy scoring race. Gauthier praised Carlsson's character and play to the media, noting how much his performance keeps the team competitive.
The win also showcased key contributions from the team's younger roster members. Rookie defenseman Noah Warren recorded a primary assist, while Tristan Luneau chipped in two assists on the power play to build on his strong start to the season.
The standout performance of the night belonged to 25-year-old forward Judd Caulfield. After earning an unexpected roster spot out of training camp, Caulfield has elevated his role from the fourth line up to the top line and earned time on the second power-play unit. Against Ottawa, Caulfield put together a three-point night with two goals and an assist. Head Coach Joel Quenneville told the Orange County Register that Caulfield has earned his expanded responsibilities by executing the minor details of the game effectively.
The victory came with a roster cost, however. Forward A.J. Greer suffered an upper-body injury following a blindside hit from Ottawa's Dylan Cozens, who received a major penalty on the play. Greer has subsequently been placed on injured reserve, and the Ducks recalled forward Nico Myatovic to join the active roster.
The Ducks now face a dense schedule of three games in four nights against Pacific Division foes in Western Canada. The trip begins Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks, continues Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers, and concludes Friday against the Calgary Flames. Anaheim will travel with three goaltenders on the roster.
The Canucks enter Tuesday's matchup sitting last in the NHL with just three total wins and seven points on the season. However, one of Vancouver's few victories came directly against the Ducks a week prior.
Calgary presents another tough challenge, having won five of their last six contests prior to a Saturday loss against Colorado. Backup netminder Devin Cooley has driven Calgary's recent surge, posting a save percentage of .929 or higher in each of his recent wins. Forwards Matt Coronato and Joel Farabee have combined for 23 points over an eight-game stretch for Calgary, while Elias Pettersson continues to pace Vancouver's offense.
Thursday's stop in Edmonton brings a matchup against Oilers captain Connor McDavid, who leads the league scoring race with 39 points through 15 games. McDavid previously posted three points in a 5-2 victory over Anaheim earlier this season. Alongside teammates Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, Edmonton's top trio has combined for 93 points this season—a total matching the entire roster output of the Los Angeles Kings and surpassing the team totals of Philadelphia, Columbus, Chicago, and Winnipeg.
