Cutter Gauthier’s late winner lifts Ducks over Canadiens in 4-3 thriller

MONTREAL — Cutter Gauthier scored the winner with 2:30 remaining in regulation as the Anaheim Ducks edged the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in a thrilling, back-and-forth affair Sunday night.

Leo Carlsson had two goals and an assist while Troy Terry scored once with two helpers as Anaheim (37-27-3) moved into first place in the Pacific Division.

Chris Kreider added two assists and Lukas Dostal made 27 saves.

Nick Suzuki — with a goal and an assist — Alex Newhook and Cole Caufield replied for Montreal (36-20-10), which lost 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Rookie goalie Jacob Fowler stopped 24 shots in his second start since being recalled from the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket on Wednesday.

The Canadiens hold third place in the Atlantic Division, two points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for second with one more game played.

Alone in front of the net, Gauthier received a smooth behind-the-back pass from Jeffrey Viel and quickly snapped a shot past Fowler to put Anaheim up 4-3.

The Canadiens trailed 2-0 early in the second period, but struck twice with goals from Newhook and Caufield one minute apart to equalize at 2:33.

Suzuki gave Montreal a 3-2 lead at 13:06, firing a wrist shot through Dostal after Juraj Slafkovsky powered his way out of the defensive zone and fed the Canadiens captain on a 2-on-1.

Terry, who returned from nine games out with an upper-body injury, tied the game at 15:39 when his pass deflected off the skate of Montreal forward Josh Anderson and over Fowler’s left shoulder.

TAKEAWAYS

Canadiens: Veteran winger Brendan Gallagher — the longest-serving Canadien — returned to the lineup after being a healthy scratch Saturday for the first time since playing his first NHL game Jan. 22, 2013.

Ducks: John Carlson made his Ducks debut after Anaheim acquired him before last week’s trade deadline from the Washington Capitals. The 36-year-old defenceman played 17 seasons and 1,143 games for the Capitals, winning a Stanley Cup in 2018.

KEY MOMENT

Moments after Newhook’s goal, Caufield received an almost-intercepted stretch pass from Noah Dobson before tucking the puck low glove-side for his 39th of the season.

KEY STAT

The Canadiens went 0-for-4 on the power play.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

Canadiens: Host the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 15, 2026.