Is Cutter Gauthier playing tonight against Golden Knights? All we know about Ducks rookie's debut

Thursday night's matchup between the Anaheim Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights will be their final regular-season showdown, and it carries special significance as Ducks rookie Cutter Gauthier will make his NHL debut.

The news was confirmed by the Anaheim Ducks on their X account:

"It's the final NHL game for Jakob Silfverberg and the NHL debut for Cutter Gauthier as we take on Vegas."

This news was also confirmed by the NHL on its X account, welcoming Gauthier to the league:

"Hobey Baker finalist Cutter Gauthier will make his NHL debut tonight in Vegas. Welcome to the League!"

Cutter Gauthier recently signed a three-year entry-level deal with Anaheim, and following the deal, the Ducks indicated that he could debut in the league. The young talent was selected fifth overall by the Flyers in the 2022 NHL entry draft before his rights were acquired by Anaheim in the Jamie Drysdale trade earlier this season.

Gauthier's impressive track record includes his offensive performance at Boston College, where he scored 54 goals and 102 points in just 73 games.

Tonight's the big night for Gauthier. He's making his NHL debut as the Ducks face off against the Golden Knights in Paradise, Nevada. The game starts at 10 p.m. EDT, and it's got everyone talking. For Ducks fans, the 2023-24 season was a disaster, but they can't wait to see what Gauthier brings to the ice in his first outing.

All eyes will focus on Gauthier as he steps onto NHL ice for the first time, with the Ducks (26-50-5, seventh in the Pacific Division) facing the Golden Knights (45-28-8, third in the Pacific Division). The Ducks would especially focus on winning the game to give the season a good end.

The Golden Knights are led by players like Jack Eichel and William Karlsson, who boast a strong record, especially when scoring three or more goals. Meanwhile, the Ducks will rely on players like Troy Terry and Alex Killorn to deliver impactful performances in their season finale.

Here's how the Ducks played before Cutter Gauthier's debut

The Los Angeles Kings secured a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Matt Roy ending long goal droughts. Kevin Fiala also contributed a goal. The win helped the Kings maintain third place in the Pacific Division. They are holding a three-point lead over Vegas with two games left in the regular season.

Despite clinching playoff spots, both teams are focused on securing favorable seeding. The Kings, under interim coach Jim Hiller, have been strong at home, boasting an eight-game winning streak. Anaheim's Trevor Zegras scored the team's lone goal, but it couldn't overcome the Kings' solid performance.