Cutter Gauthier finally scores for the Anaheim Ducks, and everybody thinks more goals are on the way

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Cutter Gauthier finally scores for the Anaheim Ducks, and everybody thinks more goals are on the way

2024-11-16 15:12 Last Updated At：15:21

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Late in the 17th game of his NHL career, Cutter Gauthier finally scored a goal for the Anaheim Ducks.

Gauthier's teammates and coaches don't expect he'll have to wait so long for the second goal in what's already been a tumultuous year for a gifted rookie learning all about the multifold challenges of pro hockey.

The 20-year-old forward finally found a net with his 36th shot of the season Friday night, beating Detroit's Alex Lyon low off the rush. After 15 straight goalless games this season — and a goalless debut in Anaheim's season finale last April — Gauthier celebrated with both excitement and relief.

Even better, his goal broke a tie in what turned out to be a 6-4 victory over the Red Wings.

“Wasn’t due to a lack of opportunities, but it was a dream come true,” Gauthier said. “Against (my) hometown team, Detroit, it was a surreal moment, and I’m just so pumped.”

Gauthier has been through plenty in 2024 already, but he hasn't slowed down.

His year began with the end of his awkward standoff with the Philadelphia Flyers, who drafted him fifth overall in 2022. After Gauthier refused to join the club for reasons that still remain unclear, Philly gave up and traded him to the Ducks in January for promising defenseman Jamie Drysdale.

Gauthier then finished his final season at Boston College, where he was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist and reached the Frozen Four championship game. He joined the Ducks for a one-game NHL debut in April and then rejoined them in September for training camp, earning his ticket straight to the big leagues.

And then the goal drought began. Gauthier started out on a line with Leo Carlsson, the Ducks' teenage Swedish playmaker — but after a promising preseason, they couldn't turn their formidable talents into goal-scoring chemistry once the regular season began.

“Obviously, it’s the best league in the world, and you don’t have a lot of time and space,” Gauthier said. “I think the biggest thing I’ve noticed is when to manage the puck, when to make the right play when I have some time, and when I’ve just got to keep it simple and get it deep, or get on the forecheck. I think a little bit of just adjusting to the speed and how good guys are has been the biggest transition for me.”

Ducks coach Greg Cronin also grew concerned about the habits that would be created by that fruitless partnership, so he moved Gauthier up and down the lineup. Gauthier began Friday night on Anaheim's putative fourth line before Cronin moved him to another group during the game.

Through it all, Gauthier hasn't stopped working or shooting the puck — the two things Cronin requires of his forwards.

“He’s been pounding pucks,” Cronin said. “To his credit, he’s been moved down the lineup to try and simplify his game and get a little bit more fourth-line habits and more of a checking kind of commitment. We always talk about changing the value system to give the guys a reset on what they’re focusing on instead of just scoring goals, and I think he fed off that. And the whole time he’s been doing this, he’s been positive, supporting his teammates, no sulking, practicing hard. I love talking about stories like that, because they’re a reflection of the culture we’re trying to create here.”

The first goal had an extra bit of meaning for Gauthier, the son of a well-traveled goalie who played only one NHL game in a lengthy professional career. Although he was born in Sweden and then grew up in Arizona, Gauthier spent his adolescence in Michigan, playing in the state's vaunted youth systems.

With his historic puck secured, Gauthier can look for more. The Ducks are counting on him to be a key component of their young core as they chase their first playoff berth since 2018.

“We have a highly skilled young team who can make plays like that night in and night out,” Gauthier said. “It’s just about having the confidence to do that consistently. It’s a super-young group, but it’s a confident one as well. The more we build our confidence, the more we’re going to be doing that moving forward.”

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

Desmond Williams Jr., Jonah Coleman lead Washington past UCLA 31-19 for bowl eligibility

2024-11-16 15:03 Last Updated At：15:11

SEATTLE (AP) — Demond Williams Jr. replaced starting quarterback Will Rogers, leading three second-half game-securing scoring drives, and Washington beat UCLA 31-19 on Friday night to clinch bowl eligibility.

Jonah Coleman added 95 rushing yards and two TDs as the Huskies won for the second time in three games and pushed their home win streak to 20 games.

“Full House, great crowd, great energy and to be 6-0 at home with a 20-game win streak is pretty amazing,” UW coach Jedd Fisch said. “And we're looking forward to taking that win streak into next season. ”

Williams led the Huskies (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) to a field goal and two touchdowns, including a 2-yard touchdown pass to Decker DeGraaf with 5:44 left in the game to seal the victory over the Bruins (4-6, 3-5). Rogers helped UW to a 14-13 halftime lead, but threw interceptions on the Huskies’ first two drives of the second half.

UW’s defense held UCLA to just three points after those turnovers, making several big plays and scoring 10 points off turnovers to secure the win. The Steve Belichick-coached defense forced and recovered two fumbles and sacked UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers six times in the victory, including on third and fourth down to end a late threat.

Rogers was 13 of 21 for 115 yards and a touchdown when he was pulled from the game after throwing interceptions to Devin Kirkwood and Kain Medrano. The first bounced off his receiver’s hands, but the second was a bad throw into triple coverage.

“I thought Will did a nice job there getting us to the 14 and then things were just not going as well as I would have liked them to,” Fisch said. “And I thought it was the right time to give (Williams) that opportunity.”

Williams completed 7 of 8 passes for 67 yards and a score and scrambled for 31 more.

Russell Davis II helped set up UW’s first two scores with two of his three sacks of Garbers. The first was followed by a 17-yard shanked punt that gave the Huskies first down at UCLA’s 36. Jonah Coleman capped a short drive with a 15-yard score and a 7-0 lead.

Coleman struggled to find room on his first few carries, then decided to slow down and wait for his blocks. He was rewarded with a gaping hole for his first score.

“I just had to go back to the basics,” Coleman said.

The performance gave him 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

“Jonah Coleman has gone over 1,000 yards on the season,” Fisch said. “I'm so proud of him. That's the No. 7 rushing defense in the country.”

Davis helped make it 14-3 with a strip sack of former UW quarterback Garbers and fumble recovery midway through the first quarter. Rogers threw an interception in the end zone on the ensuing drive. But Bryan Addison’s pick was wiped away by a roughing the passer call on Oluwafemi Oladejo. Rogers took advantage of the second chance with an 8-yard scoring toss to Keleki Latu for a 14-3 lead.

Garbers completed 27 of 44 for 267 yards and two scores.

The Bruins need two more wins to reach bowl eligibility. Coach DeShaun Foster thinks UCLA should be motivated with games against USC and Fresno State left.

“This next game, there’s not much you need to tell them,” Foster said. “They understand what kind of game we have coming up, so they should be a little upset and eager to get out on the field.”

THE TAKEAWAY

UCLA: The Bruins still have a shot at making a bowl with winnable games left on the schedule (they finish with Fresno State). But they’ll need to play better than this. There was no running game to speak of – they averaged 1.6 yards per carry - and if Garbers hadn’t been a magician on third down, converting 10 of 19, this game would have been over in the first half.

Washington: The win made the Huskies bowl eligible in their first season under Fisch, something that looked like a long shot as UW lost three of four coming into the game. That will buoy the Huskies as they prepare for their biggest test of the season.

QB DECISION

Fisch declined to name a starter for the upcoming game against No. 1 Oregon.

“I'm going to use the bye week for that and certainly announce that at the right time - or not, and let them defend two quarterbacks,” he said with a laugh.

UP NEXT

UCLA: The Bruins host crosstown rival USC on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Washington: The Huskies close the season at No. 1 Oregon on Nov. 30.

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