Kreider scores tying goal, Killorn ends shootout in Ducks' 6-5 comeback win over Canadiens

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Chris Kreider got the tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation and Alex Killorn scored in the sixth round of the shootout, sending the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.

Kreider matched his career best with a four-point night for the Ducks, who won for the seventh time in eight games despite blowing a two-goal lead in the third period. Cutter Gauthier, who also scored in the shootout, and Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist apiece.

Anaheim improved to 8-0 in shootouts this season despite going just 2 for 6 against Montreal, with even Mason McTavish failing to score for the first time in six tries this season.

Radko Gudas and Jackson LaCombe also scored, and Lukas Dostal stopped 23 shots in a rough performance before he came up big in the shootout. Anaheim earned its 19th comeback victory, matching Montreal for the NHL lead.

Cole Caufield scored two of Montreal’s three goals in the third period and Lane Hutson had a goal and two assists. Samuel Montembeault made 28 saves for the Habs, who have lost four of six.

Gauthier got his 32nd goal just 33 seconds after the opening faceoff, giving him seven goals in five games since the Olympic break.

Nick Suzuki answered moments later, securing the fifth consecutive 20-goal season for Montreal's captain.

After Gudas got his first goal since Nov. 19, Carlsson added his 21st goal early in the third off a 2-on-1 pass from Kreider.

But Caufield got his 36th and 37th goals of the season with Alexandre Carrier's tying goal with 8:13 left in regulation sandwiched between them.

With the Ducks in desperation mode, Kreider skillfully redirected Jacob Trouba’s shot from the point for the 21st goal of his first season with Anaheim.

Olen Zellweger committed a tripping penalty in overtime, but Anaheim killed the 4-on-3 disadvantage.

The Ducks played without new defenseman John Carlson, who flew to the West Coast on Friday after a late-night trade ended his 17 seasons with Washington. Montreal stayed pat at the trade deadline.

Canadiens: At Los Angeles on Saturday.

Ducks: Host St. Louis on Sunday.

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

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, center, celebrates with the bench after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) blocks the shot by Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks left wing Jeffrey Viel (28) controls the puck away from Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson, right, and left wing Chris Kreider, center left, react after a goal by defenseman Jackson LaCombe (2) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Montreal Canadiens, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

HOUSTON (AP) — Manny Ramirez hit plenty of home runs in his 19-year major league career — 555, to be exact.

On Friday night at Daikin Park, the 12-time All-Star relished watching someone else go yard when his son Lucas Ramirez hit two homers for Brazil against the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

Lucas Ramirez hit a leadoff homer, then added another solo shot in the eighth inning.

Like father, like son.

The 20-year-old sent Logan Webb’s second pitch into the seats in right field to cut the Americans' lead to 2-1 after Aaron Judge hit a two-run shot in the top of the inning. Ramirez's blast in the eighth off Gabe Speier got Brazil within 8-5.

“I was looking forward for him to do something special,” Manny Ramirez told The Associated Press after his son's first homer. “So, he’s been working so hard all year round and I’m proud of him.”

Lucas Ramirez is playing for Brazil because his mother, Juliana Ramirez, was born and raised in Sao Paulo. She was at the ballpark Friday night and beamed after the leadoff homer.

“This is the best day ever of my life, to be honest,” Lucas Ramirez said. “My mom doesn’t really make it to all of the games because she is back home with my brother. My dad is at most of the games. I’m just really thankful that my family is here was to watch me play.”

The younger Ramirez was a 17th-round pick of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2024 amateur draft and he spent last season playing in class A, batting .266 with three homers, 30 RBIs and six stolen bases.

He also played for Brazil in the 2026 WBC qualifiers and went 5 for 13.

He said he'd been visualizing hitting a home run on his first at-bat in the WBC since the qualifiers.

“It is crazy it actually happened,” he said. “For five months, every time before I go to bed, after I pray, I visualized it. And it happened. That’s why, I don’t know if you saw me running the bases, I said: ‘I told you,’ because I visualized it and it happened.”

Lucas Ramirez said he uses visualization a lot to deal with the pressure of having a famous father.

“Having Manny Ramirez as my father, it's obviously a good thing and a bad thing,” he said. “It’s a little harder, everybody expects so much. That’s why maybe I visualize and ... say things because I've got to paint my own picture. I've got to be Lucas Ramirez and I've got my own path.”

Manny Ramirez, a two-time World Series champion and the 2004 World Series MVP, would have been thrilled to see his son homer against any team, but it made it more special for him to do it against one of the top teams in the tournament.

“Oh yeah, they’re No. 1,” he said.

And he thinks the big night will give his son a boost for the upcoming season.

“It’s going to be more special for him because that’s going to give him — he’s going to be ready for the season,” Ramirez said. “I hope he’s going to do good.”

Lucas Ramirez is wearing the No. 24 his father donned for most of his career. And Manny Ramirez was thrilled to see his son succeed.

“I’m proud of him,” he said. “Thank God for this opportunity that he has.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Former professional baseball player Manny Ramirez, second from right, greets a fan during the fifth inning of a World Baseball Classic game between the United States and Brazil, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Brazil's Lucas Ramirez, right, celebrates with Osvaldo Carvalho after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game against the United States, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Brazil's Lucas Ramirez, right, celebrates with Osvaldo Carvalho after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game against the United States, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Brazil's Lucas Ramirez runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)