Ducks and schmucks from Anaheim's home opener for the 2026-27 season

The Anaheim Ducks have kept the good times rolling to start the 2026-27 season, as they defeated the Florida Panthers in overtime by a final score of 3-2. Even though the Panthers were without their captain and number one center, Aleksander Barkov, they were still a feisty opponent and pushed the Ducks to earn those two standings points. Here are the Ducks and the schmucks from Anaheim's home opener.

Duck

Cutter Gauthier

Anaheim Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville kept the lineup mostly intact from their game 1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, which included a top line that featured Leo Carlsson, A.J. Greeer, and Gauthier. The aforementioned Gauthier was the recipient of a massive contract extension over the offseason, after he scored 41 goals last season. Even though we are only two games into the 2026-27 season, Gauthier has not missed a beat, as he scored two goals against the Panthers.

In 20:50 of ice time, Gauthier had a Corsi for percentage of 51, had an expected goals percentage of 55.84 in all situations, registered 4 shots on goal, and notched an assist for good measure.

Schmuck

Weak calls

For a Panthers team that has become synomynous with griding their opponents down with a physical play style and cycling the puck down low in the offensive zone, they went down awfully easily against the Ducks. Travis Mitchell was victimized of soft cross checking call against Garnet Hathaway in the first period. A.J. Greer was given a roughing penalty against Hathaway (big surprise) in the second period. Anton Lundell was able to draw two seperate penalties in the third period and each penalty was marginal at best.

Thankfully, the Panthers were unable to convert on any of their four powerplay opportunities, as the Ducks penalty kill is clipping at an 85.7% success rate through their first two games.

Duck

The powerplay

While the Panthers may have failed at converting with the man advantage, all three of the Ducks goals came on the powerplay. Gauthier potted two himself and the newest Ducks captain, Mikael Granlund, got the overtime winner, off of a beautiful setup from Carlsson as Granlund was stationed in front on the Florida net.

That was Granlund's first goal on the season, as the center registered 22:31 of ice time and had an expected goals percentage of 51.74 in all situations. On a coaching tactics side note, Quenneville opted to have Granlund, Carlsson, Gauthier, and Beckett Sennecke on the ice for the overtime powerplay, trusting his forwards would be able convert without the need of a defenseman.

Schmuck(s)

Frank Vatrano and Nikita Klepov

Vatrano was part of the Ducks game one lineup but was only on the ice for 10:24, registered no shots on goal, and had an expected goals percentage of 40.7. Vatrano was healthy scratched against the Panthers for game two, as Sam Colangelo took his place on the third line. For a veteran that was mired in trade rumors in the offseason, as the Ducks were trying to get their cap situation in line, and is coming off of one of his worst season's statistically, Vatrano cannot afford to be in Quenneville's doghouse already.

Klepov was the 15th overall pick in the 2026 draft and had a solid showing in the preseason. However, Quenneville is largely averse to change when the lineup has been winning, and the fourth line of Jeff Malott, Tim Washe, and Judd Caulfield won't be broken up anytime soon. But Ryan Poehling could use some extra offensive help on the third line, as both Colangelo and Nikita Nesterenko have yet to register a point so far. We know what both of those wingers bring to the table, why not let the rookie get a chance? Klepov is not going to develop or gain NHL experience sitting in the press box as a scratch.

What's next?

The Anaheim Ducks will host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night, in what should be a very contested rematch after the Ducks ousted the Oilers in round one of last season's playoffs. The Ducks will then head out on the road for back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames, to close out the week.

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