ANAHEIM, Calif. _ Defenseman Josh Manson had the puck behind the Anaheim Ducks' net in the opening minutes of the second period Friday at Honda Center. Then, just as quickly, he lost it. Jaromir Jagr, the Florida Panthers' ageless wonder, wanted it, so he swiped it.
Jagr skated to the front of the Ducks' net, shifted the puck from his backhand to his forehand and with the apparent ease of a seasoned magician, he beat goaltender John Gibson for the tiebreaking goal, and his 1,901st NHL point, in the Panthers' 4-1 victory.
It was highlight-reel stuff, to be sure. The 45-year-old Jagr hardly celebrated, though.
Manson, 20 years younger, skated to the bench and sat down, looking as if someone had stolen his lunch money, which was more or less what Jagr had done to him, and to the Ducks. Jagr gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead that filled them with confidence.
Amazingly enough, the Ducks played their first home game in February on Friday, and only one of three this month at Honda Center. They completed a six-game trip across the country with a 1-0 victory Tuesday over the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Wild in St. Paul.
The Ducks started with good intentions, showing no signs of the heavy legs that sometimes plague teams in their homecoming after an extended trip. They had plenty of jump in the opening minutes against the Panthers and carried the play for extended stretches.
After a scoreless first period, the Ducks took a 1-0 lead on Andrew Cogliano's shorthanded goal 2:45 into the second. Cogliano latched onto an outlet pass from Logan Shaw and raced ahead of the retreating Panthers to beat goalie James Reimer for his 12th goal of the season.
The Ducks' lead didn't last.
Neither did their momentum.
Colton Sceviour tied it for the Panthers at 4:18.
Jagr worked his magic to make it 2-1 at 6:58.
Aaron Ekblad's power-play goal pushed the Florida lead to 3-1 at 10:08.
The Ducks seemed stunned by the reversal of fortune.
Gibson, who had been unbeatable in blanking the Wild on Tuesday, appeared to be fighting the puck. The Ducks' defensive play in front of him was sadly lacking in the second period after a credible opening period. Gibson was screened on the first and third goals and had no chance to stop Jagr.
The Ducks went into the game with a 20-1-1 record when leading after two periods.
They were only 2-16-7 when trailing after two, however.
The Ducks started the third period with a strong push, but misfired on a power play. Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf tried to inject more life into his teammates by trying to goad Ekblad into a fight. Ekblad wanted no part of it and Getzlaf and Florida's Keith Yandle ended up with slashing minors.
A more physical game would have suited the Ducks.
The Panthers were more interested in a no-hitter.
Florida's finesse game, aided by Jagr's larceny, was the big winner Friday.
