- Cutter Gauthier scored twice on the power play in the Ducks home opener
- Brad Marchand tied it late in his first game back from surgery
- Read below and watch video of both Gauthier goals and the Marchand equalizer
Cutter Gauthier wasted no time showing the Ducks what $13.5 million a year buys.
The 22-year-old scored both of Anaheim’s regulation goals on the power play Sunday night, and the Ducks beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 in overtime in their home opener at Honda Center.
His first came at 16:18 of the opening period. Jackson LaCombe and Leo Carlsson set it up, and Gauthier beat Jacob Markstrom for his first goal of the season:
Carter Verhaeghe answered for Florida 51 seconds later. Gauthier didn’t let the tie last long, though. He struck again just 47 seconds into the second period, with Beckett Sennecke and Carlsson picking up the assists.
Take a look at the second power-play goal:
Those were Gauthier’s first two goals since signing his six-year, $81 million extension on the eve of training camp. He led the Ducks with 41 goals and 69 points last season, 11 of those goals on the man advantage.
Anaheim nursed the 2-1 lead deep into the third. Then Brad Marchand showed up.
The Panthers veteran, playing his first game since offseason surgery, tied it with 1:50 left in regulation off a feed from Lars Eller. It was his first appearance since March 6.
Check out the Marchand equalizer:
Overtime belonged to Anaheim. Gustav Forsling went to the box for tripping at 2:34, and Mikael Granlund buried the winner on the ensuing power play at 4:14 to send the home crowd out happy.
Lukas Dostal made 29 saves for the Ducks, who were outshot 31-20 on the night. Florida played without Aaron Ekblad, who sat with an undisclosed injury, on top of captain Aleksander Barkov already being on LTIR.
Three power-play goals carried Anaheim. Gauthier had two of them.
