Pittsburgh Penguins game, Anaheim Ducks. Predictions, Lines, How to Watch
ANAHEIM, Calif. — There were smiles and relaxed shoulders in the Pittsburgh Penguins (6-9-2) Saturday after they accelerated to a 5-2 win over the LA Kings. Just 20 hours after the end of that game, the Penguins hit the ice to face the other SoCal team, the Anaheim Ducks, Sunday at the Honda Center.
The puck drops just after 8 p.m. EST.
Penguins lines tonight: projected lineup and starting goalie →
The Penguins took an early 2-0 lead over LA with some exceptional play from their second line, especially Tommy Novak, who finished a rebound chance on his first shift, then created a counterattack goal for his second tally at 5:10 of the first period.
Sidney Crosby scored a pair of goals, including the empty-netter. Evgeni Malkin had three assists, and Egor Chinakhov sniped a power-play goal in the win. The game also marked rookie goalie Sergei Murashov’s first win of the season and second of his brief 11-game career. He stopped 26 of 28 in the win.
Given the back-to-back games, Arturs Silovs will almost assuredly start Sunday.
Anaheim has won four straight and rallied from a 3-1 first-period deficit to beat the Calgary Flames 5-3 Friday. Jeff Malott and Tristan Luneau scored before the $18 million man Leo Carlsson tied the game with a power-play goal early in the third period. Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal with 1:34 remaining, and Nikita Nesterenko added an empty-net goal.
Lukas Dostal started in goal but was pulled after allowing three goals on 11 shots in the first period. Ville Husso stopped all 10 shots he faced in relief to earn the win.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Penguins Lines
Rickard Rakell–Sidney Crosby–Evgeni Malkin
Tommy Novak–Ben Kindel–Egor Chinakhov
Ville Koivunen–Hendrix Lapierre–Justin Brazeau
Connor Dewar–Blake Lizotte–Nick Robertson
Defense
Spencer Stastney–Erik Karlsson
Samuel Girard–Kaedan Korczak
Declan Carlile–Kris Letang
Goalie: Arturs Silovs, expected.
Ducks Lines
Alex Killorn–Leo Carlsson–Judd Caulfield
Cutter Gauthier–Mikael Granlund–Beckett Sennecke
Nico Myatovic–Tim Washe–Sam Colangelo
Jeff Malott–Roger McQueen–Nikita Nesterenko
Defense
Jackson LaCombe–Drew Helleson
Travis Mitchell–Tristan Luneau
Pavel Mintyukov–Noah Warren
Goalie: Ville Husso, expected.
Special Teams
Penguins power play: 18.8% (23rd). Penguins penalty kill: 81.4% (10th).
Ducks power play: 36.1% (2nd). Ducks penalty kill: 73.5% (24th).
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins have won eight of their last 13 games against Anaheim (8-4-1). The Penguins have lost two straight at the Honda Center, but have won seven of their last 12 trips to Anaheim (7-5-0).
The Penguins conclude their third set of back-to-back games. Thus far, the team is 2-2-1 in back-to-backs (1-1-1 on the first night and 1-1-0 on the second night).
Crosby has multiple points in seven of his last 21 games against Anaheim and 26 points overall during that stretch (9-17-26).
Head Coach Dan Muse, as well as Assistant Coach Nick Bonino and Assistant Video Coach Troy Paquette, are all appearing in their 100th NHL game as coaches. Through 99 games, Muse has compiled a record of 47-34-18, good for a .566 points percentage