Riverside-area star Gauthier sets Ducks record with second straight hat trick

Cutter Gauthier has scored eight goals in his last three games.

The number places the 22-year-old winger in uncharted territory for the Anaheim Ducks. Gauthier recorded a hat trick for the second consecutive game, leading his team to a 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night. He is the first player in franchise history to score three goals in back-to-back matches. His current scoring run follows a stretch where he had gone nine games without finding the net.

Gauthier noted the rarity of his achievement in a postgame interview with NHL.com. "Kind of surprised some of those other legends before me haven't done that with how good they were, and obviously a really special moment, but really happy we got the two wins and we can keep this thing going," he said. The winger also became the first player in NHL history to record multiple power-play goals in three consecutive games. He joined Paul Kariya as the only Ducks player with multiple goals in three straight games.

Beckett Sennecke was the central figure in Gauthier's success. The center provided career-high four assists, all primary, including the passes for all three of Gauthier's goals. "When you have someone with probably one of the best shots that I've skated with, the best shot I've ever seen in my life, you try and get him the puck when he has time and space in the slot," Sennecke told NHL.com. "And (he) kind of showed today what he can do with the puck when he shoots it."

Mikael Granlund contributed a goal and two assists for the Ducks. Leo Carlsson scored a short-handed goal. Laurent Brossoit made 19 saves in his second straight start after being called up from San Diego. Brossoit secured his first two NHL wins in front of family and friends in his hometown.

The Ducks dominated on the power play, converting three of three chances. Two of Gauthier's goals came during man advantages. The team has 10 power-play goals in the last three games. The Canucks managed to cut the deficit to one goal late in the third period, but the Ducks held on. The team improved its record in the last five games to 3-1-1.

The Ducks take on Edmonton on Thursday at 5 p.m. PT.