Penguins Aim for Historic Fourth Straight Win Against Ducks

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Pittsburgh Penguins face the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on Thursday night, aiming to extend their recent dominance over the Western Conference team. Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. Eastern, with the game broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN+.

The Penguins (20-21-8) enter the matchup with momentum, having won eight of their last 10 games against the Ducks (18-23-6). A victory would mark Pittsburgh’s first four-game road win streak against Anaheim in franchise history. The team is also 6-2-0 in its last eight games against Western Conference opponents.

Pittsburgh is midway through its longest road trip in nearly 30 years, a seven-game stretch spanning 15 days. The Penguins are 2-1-0 so far, with their last comparable trip occurring from Oct. 14-28, 1997.

Captain Sidney Crosby continues to make history, tying Steve Yzerman for 13th place on the NHL’s all-time game-winning goals list with his 94th such goal on Monday. Crosby is also one point away from surpassing Joe Sakic for the 10th-most road points in NHL history.

Evgeni Malkin has been a consistent threat against the Ducks, recording multiple points in five of his last eight games against them. In 24 career matchups, Malkin has 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists), ranking third among active players in points-per-game average against Anaheim.

Defenseman Erik Karlsson brings a seven-game point streak against the Ducks into Thursday’s contest. Karlsson has 26 points (9 goals, 17 assists) in 33 career games versus Anaheim, including a hat trick on Nov. 1, 2022.

The Penguins’ power play has been a key factor during their road trip, converting 57.1% of opportunities (4-for-7) through the first three games. Pittsburgh ranks fourth in the NHL with a 27.1% power-play percentage this season.

Bryan Rust is on the verge of his sixth 20-goal season, needing just one more tally to join an elite group of Penguins players. Kevin Hayes has also been productive since returning to the lineup, with five points (4 goals, 1 assist) in 10 games.

Fans can listen to the game on 105.9 The X and the Penguins app.