Booth scores 3 goals, Panthers beat Ducks

[SK74]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—If David Booth had to pick a favorite, his first goal Sunday would probably get the nod.

Booth scored three straight goals for his first NHL hat trick, Craig Anderson made 44 saves and the Florida Panthers recovered from an early miscue to end a six-game winless streak with a 3-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Looking to win the finale of a five-game road trip and end their lengthy winless skid, the Panthers found themselves down 1-0 after Anderson gave up a goal to Corey Perry on the Ducks’ first shot, less than 2 minutes into the game.

But Booth was able draw the struggling Panthers even 2:19 later, lofting a backhander past Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

“It was good to get that first goal, we’ve given up the first goal a lot lately and haven’t come back until the third, so to get one right away helped our team out,” said Booth, the former Michigan State star who added two more goals in the second period.

Booth scores 3 goals, Panthers beat Ducks - NHL - Yahoo! Sports