Gauthier's hat trick powers Ducks' comeback win over Senators

ANAHEIM · Cutter Gauthier scored his second career hat trick, including the go-ahead goal early in the third period, as the Anaheim Ducks stormed back from a three-goal deficit to defeat the Ottawa Senators 6-3 on Sunday night. Judd Caulfield scored twice and rookie Roger McQueen added a goal, while Leo Carlsson contributed three assists. The Ducks won for just the second time in nine games, powered by a 4-for-5 performance on the power play. Laurent Brossoit made 20 saves in his debut for Anaheim after being recalled from the AHL's San Diego Gulls on Saturday.

Claude Giroux had a goal and an assist for the Senators, who lost for the third time on a five-game road trip. Thomas Chabot and Michael Amadio also scored in the first period to give Ottawa a 3-0 lead, with Jonas Johansson stopping 27 shots in the loss. Senators head coach Travis Green pointed directly to special teams as the deciding factor. "Special teams played a big part in the game," Green said post-game. "I liked a lot of our game. If you take the special teams out, I'd be really happy with the game."

After a mistake-filled first period, the Ducks rallied to tie the game 3-3 in the second. They then took advantage of a two-man advantage early in the third, with Gauthier scoring from a sharp angle at 1:50. Still on the power play, Gauthier struck again just 36 seconds later to give Anaheim a 5-3 cushion. Senators captain Thomas Chabot echoed his coach's frustration. "I thought five-on-five was not bad to be honest. We started great," Chabot said. "Not a good second. And then, I mean, special teams." Ottawa went 0-for-3 on its own power-play opportunities.

Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville praised his team's response after the difficult start. "As a team, we can't be satisfied with our recent record and in the way we've lost some games here," Quenneville said. "I thought tonight, the effort, the enthusiasm on the bench there, the response down 3-0, it wasn't a great setting on the bench, but I think everybody hung in there." Chabot said his team must move on quickly from the disappointing defeat. "But I mean that's hockey. Obviously (a) very disappointing loss but we got to turn the page and make sure we're ready for the next one," he said. Up next: The Ducks open a three-game Western Canada road trip on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. The Senators continue their trip on Wednesday with a visit to the Buffalo Sabres.

With files from The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet and Yahoo Sports