Marchand Scores in Emotional Return as Ducks Edge Panthers 3-2 in OT

Brad Marchand's comeback story wrote its own first chapter on Sunday — it just didn't get the ending he wanted. The 38-year-old Panthers forward, playing his first game since March 6 after offseason surgery, tied the game 2-2 at 18:10 of the third period with Florida's goalie pulled, only for Mikael Granlund to win it for the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in overtime.

Granlund redirected Leo Carlsson's centering pass with 46 seconds left in the extra period, capping a night where the Ducks scored all three goals on the power play. Cutter Gauthier had two goals and an assist, Carlsson added three helpers, and Lukas Dostal made 29 saves as Anaheim (2-0-0) won its 11th straight home opener.

"It was a bit of a rude awakening," Marchand admitted. "The speed of the game and the intensity definitely ramped up at times, but it was incredible being back out there." The Panthers have now gone to overtime in all three of their games — and played this one without captain Aleksander Barkov, on long-term injured reserve.