March 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Bill Huso (33) makes a save in the first quarter against the New York Islanders at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Image Cutter Gauthier scored Anaheim’s first two goals Wednesday night against the host Ducks, who cooled the surging New York Islanders with a 5-1 win.
Beckett Sennecke singled in the bottom of the first and Ryan Poehling and Frank Vatrano added insurance goals in the third for the Ducks, who have won 13 of 16 games (13-3-0) after a nine-game losing streak from Dec. 22 to Jan. 10 (0-8-1).
Ville Husso made 42 saves in his first appearance since Jan. 26 for the Ducks, who are one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. Anaheim has not advanced to the playoffs since 2018.
Anders Lee scored the first goal for the Islanders, who snapped a five-game winning streak. New York had overcome two-goal deficits in each of its last three wins entering Wednesday.
Goalie David Rittich made 21 saves for the Islanders, who tied for second in the Metropolitan Division Wednesday with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Lee Seung-yeop scored the first goal with a power play goal in 4 minutes and 58 seconds after Tony DeAngelo’s shot was rebounded in the top of the first inning.
Gauthier scored on a power play almost exactly eight minutes later. Sennecke skated behind the net and dished to Gauthier, whose shot flew past Rittich and was screened by teammates Casey Cizikas and Carson Soucy with 7:04 left.
Gauthier put the Ducks ahead with 3:55 remaining after taking a nice feed from Leo Carlsson, who passed the puck past a sliding Matthew Schaefer before Gauthier beat the side of a Rittich stick.
Sennecke extended the lead to 2:35 later. Ian Moore’s shot from behind the right faceoff circle slipped past Ducks forwards Mason McTavish and Rittich before Sennecke put the rebound into the wide-open corner of the net.
Vatrano made a strong check on Schaefer behind the Islanders’ net, creating a turnover that led to Poehling’s backhander past Rittich 2:11 into the third. Vatrano collected an empty-netter with 4:11 remaining.
–Field level media
