BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers take on the Anaheim Ducks in a non-conference matchup. Florida is 26-17-3 overall and 12-9-2 at home. The Panthers have allowed 142 goals while scoring 146 for a +4 scoring differential.
The Anaheim Ducks and the host Florida Panthers, who are set to meet on Saturday in Sunrise, Fla., both lost on Thursday. The Ducks seemed kind of happy with the loss.
The Ducks, who had been goal-starved on this trek before scoring three in a shootout loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday, face Florida twice in a row in a home-and-home set that begins Saturday.
Robby Fabbri, Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson score for the Ducks, who fall to 1-3-1 on their six-game trip when Guentzel scores the only goal for either team in the shootout to hand them a 4-3 defeat.
Dreams deferred and deals denied came to define the Ducks during their absence from the postseason, which began in 2019, but a reshaped roster, renewed commitment to its talent and the NHL’s Second Star of the Week have all provided promise of late.
Jake Guentzel scores the only goal in the shootout to lift the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 4-3 victory over the Ducks.