Ducks 3, Panthers 1
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Defenseman Cam Fowler scored the go-ahead goal, and goalie Frederik Andersen ended his slump as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Thursday night at the BB&T Center.
It was just the second win in the past six games for Anaheim. Meanwhile, Florida, even with the loss, won three of its past five games.
Andersen, who was pulled from Anaheim's 3-2 loss at Nashville on Tuesday, had given up 11 goals on 65 shots over his past three games.
A benching -- in favor of backup Anton Khudobin -- seemed in order. Instead, Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau stuck with Andersen, who delivered 23 saves.
Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo, who made 38 saves, played well, too. In fact, stretching over three games, he had a streak of 111 minutes without allowing a goal, making 74 saves during that span.
That streak came to an end, however, with 3:21 left in the second period, when Fowler netted his third goal of the season.
Ironically, it was a soft shot that beat Luongo. After making numerous spectacular saves, Luongo allowed Fowler's wrist shot to sneak between his pads.
Anaheim made it 2-0 with 5:19 left in the third period on a short-handed goal by Andrew Cogliano. The assist came from center Shawn Horcoff, who sprung Cogliano for the open-ice opportunity.
Just before the goal, Panthers center Nick Bjugstad lost his edge while trying to retrieve a pass, and the Ducks pounced on the mistake.
Florida made it 2-1 with 3:15 left in the game on a goal by center Aleksander Barkov that bounced in off Andersen's body. Right winger Jaromir Jagr picked up the save.
Neither team scored a goal or drew a penalty in a first period that saw the Ducks outshoot the Panthers 16-7.
Florida received a scare just 22 seconds into the second period, when Luongo took a slap shot off his mask. The shot, which came from defenseman Clayton Stoner, stunned Luongo, who stopped play for a minute but remained in the game.
Luongo made a stellar save on right winger Jakob Silfverberg, who was in alone on the Florida goalie on a short-handed breakaway. Luongo gloved Silfverberg's wrist shot, bobbled it and held on while falling backward.
Silfverberg did, however, pick up an empty-net goal with 1:08 left in the game. It was his first goal of the season.
NOTES: G John Vanbiesbrouck, who led the Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final, was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. He is only the second hockey player to get the honor, joining Tampa Bay's 2004 Stanley Cup captain Dave Andreychuk. ... Florida scratched D Dmitry Kulikov (knee) and C Rocco Grimaldi and C Quinton Howden. ... Anaheim scratched D Korbinian Holzer and C Michael Sgarbossa. ... After 20 games, Anaheim ranked last in the NHL in goals scored (1.79 per game). ... Ducks D Josh Manson (flu) returned to the lineup after missing two games. ... Ducks rookie D Shea Theodore was returned to San Diego of the AHL. Theodore, the Ducks' first-round pick in 2013, has yet to make his NHL debut.