Ducks 5, Penguins 2: Gauthier makes it three hat tricks in five games

Cutter Gauthier scored twice in 2 minutes, 43 seconds during the second period Sunday, then finished into an empty net with 34 seconds left. Anaheim beat Pittsburgh 5-2 at Honda Center, giving Gauthier his third hat trick in five games.

He has scored in six consecutive games, with 13 goals during that stretch, according to the NHL’s game report. The Ducks have won five straight and stand at 10-7-1.

Gauthier also assisted on Mikael Granlund’s opening goal. Both players finished with four points: three goals and an assist for Gauthier, a goal and three assists for Granlund.

Two quick goals, then the finish

The two second-period finishes gave Anaheim room to work. Gauthier scored on the power play at 6:28 to make it 2-0, then added an even-strength goal at 9:11 for a three-goal advantage. Tristan Luneau’s third-period goal extended the lead to 4-0.

Pittsburgh cut the deficit to two on power-play goals by Kris Letang and Rickard Rakell. Gauthier’s empty-net goal at 19:26 ended that comeback attempt and completed the hat trick.

His three goals came in three different game situations: a power play, even-strength play against a goalie and an empty net. The first two widened a one-goal game; the last protected the result after Pittsburgh had pushed back.

The NHL lists Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne and Frank Vatrano as the other Ducks to record three hat tricks in a season. Gauthier has reached that mark with most of the schedule still ahead. What made Sunday more than another individual scoring line was the way his middle-period burst established the margin Anaheim ultimately needed.