By IceHockeyMan Editorial Team | 2 November 2026
Match date: 2 November 2026.
Final score: Ducks 6, Senators 3.
The Ducks turned a three-goal first-period deficit into a 6-3 win over the Senators on 2 November, with C. Gauthier scoring a hat-trick as six unanswered Anaheim goals transformed the night.
Game Story
Ottawa made a sharp start and built a 3-0 lead in the opening period. P. Tomasino opened the scoring at 6:00, assisted by T. Chabot and D. Batherson, before C. Giroux struck 62 seconds later from J. Sanderson and A. Zub. M. Amadio extended the advantage at 17:37, with C. Giroux and J. Sanderson collecting the assists.
The Ducks found their response early in the second. C. Gauthier scored unassisted at 1:35, then J. Caulfield pulled the home side within one at 3:33, assisted by N. Warren and L. Carlsson. Ottawa held that narrow edge until the closing seconds of the period, when Caulfield scored again at 19:18 from T. Luneau and N. Nesterenko to make it 3-3.
The tie did not last long after the restart. Gauthier put Anaheim ahead at 1:50 of the third, with J. LaCombe and Carlsson assisting, then completed his hat-trick only 36 seconds later from Carlsson and M. Granlund. R. McQueen added the final goal at 15:19, assisted by Caulfield and Luneau, to complete a six-goal Ducks answer after Ottawa's early command.
Turning Point
Caulfield's equaliser with 42 seconds left in the second period changed the shape of the contest, but Gauthier's third-period burst settled it. His go-ahead goal at 1:50 made it 4-3, and his hat-trick finish at 2:26 put the Ducks two clear before Ottawa could regain its footing.
Standout Performers
C. Gauthier was the defining figure, recording three goals on three separate Ducks scoring surges. J. Caulfield added two goals and an assist, including the late second-period equaliser, while L. Carlsson supplied three assists, setting up both of Gauthier's third-period goals. L. Brossoit stopped 19 of 22 shots in his first game of the season for the Ducks. For Ottawa, C. Giroux had a goal and an assist, and J. Sanderson registered two assists.
Tactical Observations
The scoreline showed two very different phases. Ottawa made efficient use of its first period, scoring three times from 10 shots, but the Ducks steadily tilted the contest through the remaining 40 minutes and finished with a 33-22 advantage in shots. Anaheim's second-period recovery mattered because it removed the need for a desperate final push, while the two goals in 36 seconds at the start of the third gave the Ducks a lead substantial enough to manage. The event record does not offer a fuller picture of the teams' systems, but Anaheim's sustained scoring and shot advantage after the interval were plain.
Coach Mark Comment
That second-period equaliser at 19:18 was a hard one for Ottawa to take because the break was so close. A team can use an interval to settle itself after seeing a lead shrink, but the Ducks had already brought the game level before either bench had that chance. Then Gauthier scored twice in the first 2:26 of the third. Those 36 seconds were not just a change in score, they left Ottawa trying to rebuild a game that had slipped away in a very short space of time.
What It Means
The Ducks had a tangible result from a difficult opening: they recovered from 3-0 down and scored six consecutive goals. Gauthier's hat-trick and Caulfield's three-point night supplied the decisive production, while Brossoit completed a winning first appearance of the season for his new club.
What Comes Next
For the Ducks, the immediate question is whether the scoring connection between Gauthier, Caulfield and Carlsson can carry forward after driving such a forceful reversal. Ottawa must address how a three-goal first-period lead became a three-goal defeat.