ANAHEIM, Calif. (Interstat) — Cutter Gauthier scored twice in a three-goal first period, and the Anaheim Ducks cruised to a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night at Honda Center. Gauthier’s pair of wrist shots sparked the early outburst, and Beckett Sennecke also scored in the opening frame. Ville Husso backstopped the win with 42 saves on 43 shots for the Ducks. Anders Lee scored the lone goal for the Islanders midway through the first period, but Anaheim added two more in the third from Frank Vatrano and Ryan Poehling. The announced attendance was 14,196. With the win, Anaheim improved to 34-27, while New York fell to 35-27.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Interstat) — Cutter Gauthier scored twice in a dominant first period and Ville Husso made 42 saves as the Anaheim Ducks routed the New York Islanders 5-1 on Wednesday night at Honda Center. The Ducks erupted for three goals in the opening frame and never looked back, avenging a 5-2 loss to the Islanders on Long Island back in December. The victory improved Anaheim to 34-27, pulling them even with the Islanders, who fell to 35-27, in the tightly contested NHL standings. Gauthier, the Ducks’ dynamic left wing from Scottsdale, Arizona, was the catalyst. He opened the scoring on the power play at 12:56 of the first period, converting a wrist shot with assists from Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider. Just over three minutes later, he struck again at 16:05, finishing a feed from Leo Carlsson, with Kreider picking up his second helper of the night. Anders Lee briefly interrupted the onslaught for the Islanders, scoring his 15th of the season on a power play at 4:58 of the first to cut the deficit to 2-1. But the Ducks responded just 1:42 later when Sennecke netted his 20th goal, with Mason McTavish and Ian Moore assisting, to restore the two-goal cushion heading into the first intermission. Husso, the Finnish netminder, was the story from there. He turned aside all 22 Islander shots in the second period and 19 more in the third, repeatedly stifling New York’s attempts to mount a comeback. His performance was a stark contrast to the Ducks’ 5-1 loss to Colorado just 24 hours earlier. The Ducks put the game out of reach with two third-period goals. Frank Vatrano scored his fourth of the season at 5:49, assisted by Jacob Trouba. Ryan Poehling then capped the scoring at 6:11, finishing a backhand chance set up by Ryan Strome. The Islanders, who entered the game on a three-game winning streak, were frustrated throughout. They outshot Anaheim 43-28 but could not solve Husso after the first period. Their power play went 1 for 4, while the Ducks capitalized on one of their three opportunities. Beyond Gauthier and Husso, the Ducks received multi-point nights from Kreider (two assists) and Sennecke (one goal, one assist). Trouba, Carlsson, McTavish and Strome each added an assist. The announced attendance at Honda Center was 14,196. The Islanders continue their California road trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The Ducks host the Montreal Canadiens on Friday. Notes: The game’s final score matched the projection of National Statistical’s game simulator, though the total goals fell under the projected over/under line of 6.5. ... Gauthier now has five goals in his last three games. ... The Islanders fell to 1-1 on their current five-game road trip.

Preview: Islanders Visit Ducks in Key Late-Season Matchup ANAHEIM, Calif. (Interstat) — Two teams jockeying for playoff position will meet when the New York Islanders visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Wednesday night. The Islanders (35-26-0) arrive in Southern California after a thrilling 5-4 home victory over the Florida Panthers on Sunday. Captain Bo Horvat was instrumental in that win, scoring a goal and registering three shots on net. Horvat has been a consistent offensive catalyst, recording points in three of his last four appearances. New York has found a knack for close victories, winning three straight and five of their last six, with four of those wins coming by a single goal, including two in overtime. Their most recent loss was a 4-1 defeat in Washington on Feb. 2. The Ducks (33-26-0) are equally hot, riding a five-game winning streak. Their latest was a 3-2 shootout triumph over Calgary on Sunday, powered by a two-goal performance from rookie standout Cutter Gauthier, who fired a staggering nine shots on goal. Anaheim’s offense has been potent during this run, scoring four or more goals in four of the five victories. This is the second and final meeting of the season between the clubs. The Islanders won the first matchup 5-2 at UBS Arena on Dec. 11, 2025. The game features a compelling clash in the crease. The Islanders’ Ilya Sorokin, who backstopped the December win over Anaheim, is expected to face the Ducks’ Lukas Dostal, who made 32 saves in Sunday’s win. According to National Statistical’s game simulator, the Ducks are projected to extend their streak with a 5-3 victory. Following this contest, the Islanders continue a California road trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday. The Ducks open a three-game homestand, hosting the Montreal Canadiens on Friday.