Ducks recover in OT, overcome Marchand’s late goal for Panthers in season debut

ANAHEIM -- Mikael Granlund scored a power-play goal with 46 seconds left in overtime, and the Anaheim Ducks recovered for a 3-2 win despite Brad Marchand’s late tying goal in his season debut for the Florida Panthers at Honda Center on Sunday.

Granlund redirected a centering pass from Leo Carlsson for the game-winner.

Marchand, who underwent offseason surgery for an unspecified injury after last playing on March 6 because of a lower-body injury, tied it 2-2 at 18:10 of the third period. He scored on a rebound with Florida goalie Jacob Markstrom pulled for the extra skater.

"It was a bit of a rude awakening," Marchand said. "The speed of the game and the intensity definitely ramped up at times, but it was great to be back out there. It's going to take some time to get the timing and everything back, and conditioning back, but it was incredible being back out there and being part of the team again."

Cutter Gauthier had two power-play goals and an assist, and Carlsson had three assists for the Ducks (2-0-0), who won their 11th consecutive home opener to extend their team record. Lukas Dostal made 29 saves.

"We played a man's team tonight and a man's game," Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville said. "(The Panthers) know how to win. They know it doesn't stop, and it's 60 minutes of pushing and shoving. You don't have to be fancy sometimes, just a little protecting of the puck and they're getting it out of the zone, or in deep, or blocking a shot. All the little things add up and they know how to win, and that's why it was such a big win."

Carter Verhaeghe also scored for the Panthers (1-0-2), who were playing their first game since team captain Aleksander Barkov went on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury sustained in a 4-3 overtime loss at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Markstrom made 18 saves in Florida’s third straight overtime game to open the season.

"We battled back to get the point," Verhaeghe said. "We've been in a lot of tight games."

Gauthier scored on the power play to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 16:18 of the first period with a snap shot from just above the left face-off circle.

Verhaeghe tied it 1-1 at 17:09 after Matthew Tkachuk intercepted a pass behind the Anaheim net from Tim Washe and passed it out front to Sam Bennett. His shot from in close was saved, but Verhaeghe pushed in the rebound from the crease.

Gauthier’s second power-play goal put the Ducks back ahead 2-1 just 47 seconds into the second period. Lars Eller was penalized for cross-checking Granlund after the first period expired, and Gauthier finished a tic-tac-toe passing play.

"We want to get better than what we did last year," Quenneville said of his power play, which improved to 23rd in the NHL last season (18.6 percent) after finishing last in 2024-25 (11.8). "I thought we made a big move in the numbers last year, from the prior year, and moving at that rate again this year, numbers-wise, percentage-wise, should put us in a better place."

Marchand said he likes what he sees out of the Panthers so far.

"We just have an incredible group," he said. "The feeling off the ice with the personalities we have in the room -- we've been together a week and it's been an absolute blast already, so we're really looking forward to a great year together. Not just on the ice, but off the ice and building relationships and friendships.

“Hopefully, that translates on the ice as well. There's been some ups and downs already so far this year, but it's what's expected in this league and what we're going to have to go through, but we will and it will make us stronger."

NOTES: Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad returned to Florida because of a personal matter, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. He will not play in the finale of the four-game road trip on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings. ... Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling had two blocked shots in 20:25 after being a late scratch against the Sharks on Thursday because of an upper-body injury. ... The Ducks won their 11th straight home opener, matching the Boston Bruins (2016-17 to 2026-27) and Montreal Canadiens (1953-54 to 1963-64) for the longest streak in NHL history. ... Carlsson has five points (one goal, four assists) through the first two games, joining Saku Koivu (one goal, four assists) and Daniel Winnik (four goals, one assist) in 2012-13 as the only players in team history to accomplish the feat.