February 18th, 2017

The Ducks ran into a red hot Florida Panthers team on Friday in Anaheim, and it was the Panthers big 2nd period that propelled them to a 4-1 win.

After a scoreless 1st period, Andrew Cogliano got the Ducks on the board with his third short-handed goal of the season, and the Ducks looked like they might be on their way to a victory.

However, the Panthers blitzed the Ducks for three straight goals after that, and never looked back from there.  45 year old Jaromir Jagr scored a brilliant goal during that stretch to give Florida a 2-1 lead, after stealing the puck from Josh Manson behind the net.  Jagr made a few dekes before putting the puck past Gibson.

Jagr’s goal, followed by Colton Sceviour, and Aaron Ekbald, came within a stretch of 6 minutes.  The Ducks put some pressure on James Reimer in the 3rd period, but the Panthers Goaltender game up with some big saves.  Derek MacKenzie added an empty net short-handed goal in the final two minutes to secure the win for Florida.

Turnovers were a big issue for Anaheim.  “We fed their offense with our inability to execute with the puck,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “They turned the game in their favor with us gifting the puck to them.”

The Ducks played their first game without center Antoine Vermette, who’s serving a 10-game suspension for slashing an official pending an appeal.  However, Anaheim still dominated in the face-off circle.  The Ducks won 12 of 17 faceoffs in the first period and 71 percent for the game.

Jonathan Gibson made 27 saves for Anaheim, but wasn’t necessarily as sharp as he usually is.  Carlyle indicated that he considered giving Gibson the night off to rest, but backup Jonathan Bernier was ill.

The Ducks will try to get back in the win column on Sunday when they take on the Kings at the Honda Center.