SUNRISE, Fla. — The ice has been tilted in John Gibson’s direction for almost every game since, well, as long as he’s been without a victory, and that’s been since a March 1 win over the Boston Bruins. He has been under siege for the better part of 12 consecutive games, losing 12 in a row going into Tuesday.

Not that Coach Dallas Eakins thought of it that way, mind you. He refused to separate Gibson’s losing streak from the team’s inability to win in front of him before the Ducks faced the Eastern Conference-leading Florida Panthers. Gibson’s play was never better than it was on Tuesday.

Somehow, someway, Gibson gave the Ducks a chance to win, making 48 saves in regulation and stealing a point by sending the game to overtime before Jonathan Huberdeau scored on the Panthers’ 55th and final shot, giving Florida a 3-2 victory with a goal with 1:19 left in OT.

Troy Terry scored his team-leading 33rd goal of the season to put the Ducks ahead 1-0 only 7:38 into the game. Anthony Duclair tied it for the Panthers, his 29th of the season and the team’s 300th, with a goal 1:44 into the second period, a pinball shot off the skate of the Ducks’ Jamie Drysdale.

Just when it appeared the Panthers’ offensive onslaught would turn the game in their favor, Gibson stood strong in goal and turned away Florida shooters repeatedly in the second period. Then, against the run of play, Derek Grant redirected a pass from Drysdale into the net for a 2-1 lead at 17:24.

Florida outshot the Ducks by 37-18 through the first two periods.

Duclair tied it 2-2 with a power-play goal at 10:09 of the third.

More to come on this story.

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