Gauthier scores twice as the Ducks beat the Rangers 4-1 to snap their two-game losing streak

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Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson Lacombe, front, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson Lacombe (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray) — Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson Lacombe, front, celebrates with teammates after scoring against the New York Rangers during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Dec 15, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

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8:42 PM on Monday, December 15, 2025

By STEPHEN WHYNO

NEW YORK (AP) — Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal six minutes into the third period and got his second on an empty-netter, Lukas Dostal stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced, and the Anaheim Ducks beat the New York Rangers 4-1 on Monday night to end a two-game losing streak.

Gauthier's first goal with one second left on a power play came off a perfectly placed pass from rookie Beckett Sennecke. Igor Shesterkin barely had a chance to react.

Defenseman Jackson LaCombe scored Anaheim's first goal shorthanded in the second period, putting home a rebound after Jacob Trouba sprung Ryan Poehling up the ice late in the Rangers' 5-on-3 power play. Dostal was brilliant at the other end of the rink, at one point making a toe save on J.T. Miller and sliding over to deny Vladislav Gavrikov immediately after.

The Ducks got a goal in the final seconds from Pavel Mintyukov and celebrated with Trouba and veteran forward Chris Kreider, who returned to play at Madison Square Garden for the first time since the Rangers sent them to southern California in separate trades. Kreider and Trouba each waved to the crowd after tribute videos during timeouts in the first while fans applauded.

Matthew Robertson scored the only goal for the Rangers, who have lost 12 of 16 games at home. The shot from Robinson deflected off Frank Vatrano's stick and popped into the air before going in off Dostal's.

New York was without center Mika Zibanejad, whom coach Mike Sullivan scratched for breaking a team rule by missing a meeting. Big winger Matt Rempe took Zibanejad's spot in the lineup, back after he missed 24 games since getting injured in a fight Oct. 23.

Up next

Ducks: Wrap up their five-game Eastern Conference road trip Tuesday night at the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Rangers: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night.

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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL