Ducks 3, Panthers 2 (OT): Granlund Ends It on the Power Play

October 4, 2026 - Anaheim - Gustav Forsling tripped Beckett Sennecke at 2:34 of overtime. Florida almost killed it. Then Leo Carlsson found Mikael Granlund in front of Jacob Markstrom, and Honda Center had a 3-2 home opener.

The Anaheim Ducks beat the Florida Panthers in overtime. Anaheim is 2-0-0. Florida is 1-0-2. The Associated Press recap said it was Anaheim's 11th consecutive win in home openers. All three Ducks goals came on the power play.

Cutter Gauthier scored twice with the man advantage and assisted on Granlund's winner. Carlsson had three assists. Lukas Dostal stopped 29 of 31. Markstrom stopped 18 of 21 and took the overtime loss. Shots finished 31-21 Florida. Attendance was 17,174.

Gauthier twice, Verhaeghe once, a post that stayed 2-1

Gauthier snapped a power-play goal at 16:18 of the first from Jackson LaCombe and Carlsson, after Florida's too-many-men penalty. 1-0. Fifty-one seconds later Carter Verhaeghe tipped one even strength from Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. 1-1.

Lars Eller cross-checked Granlund at 20:00 of the first. Gauthier scored again 47 seconds into the second from Sennecke and Carlsson. 2-1. The AP recap said Gauthier had an open net for a hat trick late in the second off another Sennecke pass and hit the post, then snapped his stick over his knee. The NHL box still shows two goals, four shots, one block, and two power-play bonuses.

Florida failed to score when A.J. Greer tripped Anton Lundell at 15:51 of the third, the AP recap said. Brad Marchand tied it at 18:10 with Markstrom pulled, a wrist shot, Eller the lone assist. 2-2. It was Marchand's season debut, the recap said. Verhaeghe had the other Florida goal.

A 4:14 winner and a thin Florida blue line

Sennecke drew Forsling. Granlund tipped Carlsson at 4:14 of overtime, Gauthier the second assist. 3-2. Carlsson has five points in two games after his $90 million extension, the AP recap said. Gauthier signed a six-year, $81 million extension last month after a 41-goal season.

Aaron Ekblad was a late scratch. The recap said Florida lost captain Aleksander Barkov to a significant left-leg injury on Thursday. Radko Gudas played against the club he captained for two seasons. Greer played against the club that won a Stanley Cup with him in 2025.

Noah Warren was the third star with no points. He is not seeded on AthX player pages, so the name stays unlinked. Seth Jones played 28:35. LaCombe played 28:41.

Florida visits Los Angeles on Tuesday. Anaheim hosts Edmonton on Wednesday.

AthX Engine after a power-play overtime

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Gauthier at 14.40. Carlsson is 9.10. Dostal's win, 29 saves, and two goals against are 12.20. Granlund is 6.20. Sennecke is 5.80. Marchand is 5.80. Verhaeghe is 5.30. Markstrom's overtime loss, 18 saves, and three goals against are 4.10.

Anaheim's team line is 16.60. Florida's overtime-loss line is 7.40.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for Gauthier after two power-play goals in a home opener, and for a Panthers club that has now dropped two straight. They are not the same number.

Track Gauthier, Carlsson, Dostal, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com scoreboard, NHL gamecenter boxscore 2026020037. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from that verified box. Information only; not financial advice.*