Ducks and Florida Panthers players tussle in front of the Panther’s goal during the second period of a game between the two teams at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Florida Panthers’ Brady Tkachuk (8), left, controls the puck as the Ducks’ Noah Warren (47) challenges for it during the second period of a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Sam Colangelo (12) shoots on goal during the second period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Florida Panthers’ Garnet Hathaway (21), left, loses his helmet and he and the Ducks’ Tim Washe (42) collide during the second period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal stretches to block a shot attempt by the Florida Panthers’ Eetu Luostarinen (27) during the second period of a game between the two teams at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Travis Mitchell controls the puck during the second period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Noah Warren (47) controls the puck during the second period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Ryan Peohling (25) conrtrols the puck during the second period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Florida Panthers’ Brady Tkachuk (8) and the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov (98) battle for the puck during the first period of a game between the two teams at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Goalie Lukas Dostal takes the ice before the start of the Ducks’ home opener agains the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Florida Panthers’ Radko Gudas (6), left, and the Ducks’ Beckett Sennecke (45) slam into the glass as they race for the puck during the first period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Alex Killorn (17), left, and the Florida Panthers’ Sandis Villains (95) battle for a loose puck during the first period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Jeff Malott (39) controls the puck during the first period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ A.J. Greer (18) dives on the ice as he takes a shot on goal during the first period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks players celebrate a first-period goal by Cutter Gauthier (61) during the team’s home opener against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks introduce Joshua Conger as the 2026-27 season’s 21st Duck during a pre-game ceremony before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Tristan Luneau (67) shoots on goal during the first period of a game against the Florida Panthers at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks introduce Joshua Conger as the 2026-27 season’s 21st Duck during a pre-game ceremony before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani waits on deck during the third inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Ducks player Cutter Gauthier signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player A.J. Greer takes a selfie with a fan on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Judd Caulfield signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Judd Caulfield signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Tristan Luneau signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Noah Warren signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Ducks fan holds up a bobble head of Leo Carson as she waits to meet players on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Wing signs autographs for Ducks fans on the orange carpet before the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Travis Mitchell signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Tyson Hinds signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Tyson Hinds signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks players Pavel Mintyukov, left, and Ville Husso make their way along a line of hundreds of fans as they sign autographs during a meet-and-greet on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Pavel Mintyukov signs an autograph on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ducks’ Power Players make an appearance on the orange carpet before the start of the Ducks’ home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player A.J. Greer signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Travis Mitchell signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Wing signs autographs for Ducks fans on the orange carpet before the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks DJ JoJo Maestrado, known as DJ JoJo, right, introduces Ducks player Noah Warren as he arrives on the orange carpet to greet fans before the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Sam Colangelo signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hundreds of Ducks fans line the orange carpet as players arrive to meet fans and sign autographs before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Pavel Mintyukov signs an autograph for a fan on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks players Travis Mitchell and Tristan Luneau make their way along a line of hundreds of fans during a meet-and-greet on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks fans cheer as players arrive on the orange carpet to meet fans and sign autographs before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks player Cutter Gauthier signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks goaltender Ville Husso signs autographs on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ducks broadcaster Alexis Downie interviews Ducks player Cutter Gauthier, left, and the 2026 21st Duck, Joshua Conger, center, on the orange carpet before the start of the team’s home opener at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ANAHEIM — When Cutter Gauthier scores for the Ducks, his goal song blares and rapper O.T. Genasis shouts “your price is way too high, you need to cut it!”
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But in Sunday evening’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Florida Panthers in their home opener at Honda Center, the nouveau riche Gauthier and Leo Carlsson looked to be worth every penny.
Gauthier, who signed a contract worth $13.5 million per year this offseason, scored two power-play goals and was centimeters from his second career hat trick – his first came against Florida last November. Carlsson, who cashed in to the tune of $18 million annually, assisted on those two goals. Both players helped set up captain Mikael Granlund’s overtime winner, which also came with the extra man. Lukáš Dostál manned the net expertly, making 29 saves, and Beckett Sennecke contributed two helpers.
Carter Verhaeghe tallied for Florida before Brad Marchand, making his season debut after offseason surgery, tied the game late. Jacob Markström halted 18 shots.
In a game where fans were consternated by the officiating, the Ducks got the biggest call of the evening when Sennecke drew a penalty with just over three minutes left in overtime. He’d later key the connection between Gauthier, Carlsson and Granlund, who redirected the winner past Markström with 46 seconds remaining.
The Ducks stayed ahead in a structured, heavy game against a seasoned opponent, but gave up the tying goal with 1:50 to play in regulation.
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With the goalie pulled, Lars Eller flicked a shot on net that generated a rebound for Marchand to pop in, his first goal in his first game action since undergoing surgery in August.
Sennecke’s mesmerizing shot fake and drop pass fooled everyone in white and left Gauthier with a wide-open net in the final minute of the second period, but his shot rang loudly off the inside of the left post.
Gauthier had already scored a pair of go-ahead goals on the power play.
Just 47 seconds into the middle frame, he finished a tic-tac-toe play from between the hash marks, with the primary assist going to Sennecke.
Verhaeghe’s persistence swiping near the net had knotted the contest with 2:51 to play in the opening stanza. Tim Washe’s blind backhand pass was intercepted by Matthew Tkachuk, who initiated the scoring sequence from below the goal line.
Gauthier had gotten the puck rolling less than a minute earlier. He found quiet ice on the weak side, drifting above the left circle to receive a puck reversal and snap home his first goal of the young season.
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More to come on this story.