Quick Read
- Anaheim Ducks defeated Seattle Kraken 4-2 at Honda Center on February 3, 2026.
- The victory ended Seattle’s four-game winning streak.
- Cutter Gauthier scored his 25th goal of the season for the Ducks.
- Both teams were battling for Western Conference playoff positioning, entering the game with identical point totals.
- The game was the Ducks’ final match before the Olympic break.
ANAHEIM (Azat TV) – The Anaheim Ducks delivered a critical performance on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, defeating the Seattle Kraken 4-2 at Honda Center in a high-stakes Western Conference showdown. The victory was crucial for the Ducks, ending the Kraken’s four-game winning streak and significantly bolstering Anaheim’s position in the tight playoff race as both teams entered the contest tied with 61 points. This decisive game also marked the Ducks’ final outing before the impending Olympic break.
The Ducks established an early lead that proved insurmountable, with Cutter Gauthier opening the scoring at 4:01 of the second period with a snap shot from the top of the right circle, just as a power play expired, marking his 25th goal of the season. Defenseman Jacob Trouba extended Anaheim’s advantage to 2-0 with a hard slap shot from the right point late in the second period. The third period saw the Ducks further solidify their lead, with Alex Killorn scoring from a sharp angle just 24 seconds in, followed by Ross Johnston making it 4-0 at 13:54 after a misplay by Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer behind the net allowed Jansen Harkins to set up an open net opportunity. Seattle mounted a late push, with Jordan Eberle redirecting a shot for his 20th goal of the season at 15:31, and Shane Wright adding another after a chaotic play with 2:31 left, but Anaheim held on for the 4-2 win.
Ducks Bolster Playoff Hopes
Coming into the matchup, both the Ducks and the Kraken were locked in a fierce battle for Western Conference playoff positioning. The Kraken, with a 26-19-9 record, held seventh place, while the Ducks, at 29-23-3, were close behind in eighth. Seattle had been on a hot streak, winning four consecutive games and averaging an impressive 4.3 goals per game during that run. Anaheim, however, had also been surging, posting an 8-2-0 record over their last ten games, including a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in their previous outing. The season series between the two teams stood at 2-1 in favor of Seattle prior to this game, with Anaheim having secured the most recent win, a 4-2 triumph in Seattle on January 23.
Key Players and Injury Challenges
The contest featured a compelling goaltending duel between Seattle’s Philipp Grubauer and Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal. Grubauer entered the game with an 11-5-3 record and strong recent form, allowing only one goal in a previous 5-1 win over Washington. Dostal, for Anaheim, had a 20-13-2 record and had been remarkably consistent, allowing three or fewer goals in eight consecutive starts. He finished the game with 26 saves, weathering Seattle’s late surge. Offensively, Ducks young left winger Cutter Gauthier continued to impress, with his goal in the game bringing his season total to 25 and his points to 49 through 55 games. For the Kraken, Matthew Beniers had been a steady contributor, noting 37 points in 54 games before this contest. Both teams faced significant injury challenges, with Anaheim missing goaltender Petr Mrazek, forward Leo Carlsson, and Frank Vatrano, while Seattle was without Matt Murray, Berkly Catton, and Ben Meyers, forcing coaches to rely on their depth rosters.
Post-Game Implications and Outlook
The Ducks’ victory improved their home record to 17-8-1 and marked their ninth win in their last eleven games, a significant turnaround after a challenging nine-game losing streak earlier in the season. Despite the win, Anaheim’s active NHL record of 137 games without a shutout continued, as Lukas Dostal was just 4 1/2 minutes away from securing one before Seattle’s late goals. The game, broadcast nationally on TNT, lived up to its billing, offering intense, end-to-end hockey reflective of the tightening playoff picture. With the Olympic break now upon them, the Ducks will host the Edmonton Oilers on February 25 for their first game back, while the Kraken will continue their road trip against the Los Angeles Kings before their own break.
The Anaheim Ducks’ hard-fought win against the Seattle Kraken underscores the intense competition defining the Western Conference playoff race, highlighting the team’s resurgence and the crucial role of individual performances in securing vital points as the NHL season progresses towards its decisive stages.