Huberdeau, Barkov return to lead Panthers past Ducks
SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jonathan Huberdeau scored the winning goal off an assist from Aleksander Barkov -- both players fresh off the injured list -- to lead the Florida Panthers past the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Friday night at the BB&T Center.
Skating four-on-four, Barkov got control of the puck on the left wing after a Keith Yandle stretch pass. Barkov centered the puck to Huberdeau, who didn't look rusty at all, elevating the puck and getting it past Anaheim goalie John Gibson's glove with 4:58 left in the second period.
This was the season debut for Huberdeau, who severed an Achilles tendon in Florida's final exhibition game. Barkov hadn't played since suffering a back injury on Dec. 28. Last season, Barkov had career highs in goals (28) and assists (31). Huberdeau had career highs in goals (20) and points (59).
Florida (23-19-10) won its third game in a row.
Anaheim (28-16-9) was held to just one goal, by Hampus Lindholm and also suffered an injury. Defenseman Sami Vatanen left the game due to a lower-body injury and did not return.
The win went to backup goalie James Reimer, who had been set to start Tuesday's game against the Ottawa Senators. Reimer was scratched from Tuesday's start when his wife gave birth to the couple's first child.'
Each team produced a first-period goal, and the scores came just 13 seconds apart.
Lindholm opened the scoring with a laser-beam wrist shot from just beyond the left circle. Antoine Vermette set up the play by winning a faceoff and getting the puck to Lindholm.
The Panthers tied the score as Reilly Smith made a bee-line for the front of the crease, where he quickly scored on a centering pass from Jason Demers.
Florida had a chance to go ahead midway through the second period as Anaheim was called for two penalties within five seconds of each other -- holding on Korbinian Holzer and delay of game against Josh Manson for flipping the puck over the glass.
The Panthers had a two-man advantage for 1:55 but could only manage five shots and no goals.
But thanks to Huberdeau's goal, that did not haunt the Panthers.
NOTES: Florida assigned F Paul Thompson, 28, to AHL Springfield. ... The Panthers scratched D Jakub Kindl and C Greg McKegg. ... Florida is off until the Los Angeles Kings visit on Thursday. ... Anaheim scratched D Shea Theodore and RW Ondrej Kase. ... This was the start of a six-game trip for the Ducks. In order, the rest of the trip is as follows: Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres, Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild. ... Ducks D Cam Fowler, a 2010 first-round pick, is having a career season in goals scored in this his seventh year in Anaheim.