Penguins

Penguins Game 50, Ruffling Feathers; Lines, Notes & How to Watch vs. Ducks

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2 hours ago

January 23, 2025

Pittsburgh Penguins game, Anaheim Ducks. Predictions, Lines, How to Watch

ANAHEIM, Calif — The Pittsburgh Penguins (20-21-8) again have a chance to get back to hockey .500, but more importantly, stack wins on a pivotal seven-game road trip. Thus far, the Penguins are 2-1-0 in the first three games and inching back into the continually mediocre middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They’ll face the struggling Anaheim Ducks (18-23-6) at the Honda Center on Thursday.

The puck drops just after 10 p.m. EST.

The Penguins are currently at least four points out of a playoff spot; they are four points behind the Ottawa Senators, who have one game in hand. Including Ottawa, there are five teams between the Penguins and that playoff spot the team covets.

The Penguins’ trip began with a rousing win over the Buffalo Sabres before a grinding game against the Washington Capitals went against them. On Monday, their third game in four days, the Penguins trounced the LA Kings 5-1 at Crypto.com Arena. The Penguins were largely in control for 60 minutes, outskating LA and converting scoring chances, while Alex Nedeljkovic made several early saves to squelch any LA momentum.

Nedeljkovic has won three of his last four starts, making 40 saves in two of them. He faced only 26 shots against LA.

“It doesn’t matter (how many saves), it’s about getting the win,” Nedeljkovic said Wednesday after practice. The Penguins goaltending rotation is in flux following the team waiving Tristan Jarry last week, but coach Mike Sullivan has indicated that performance would be a deciding factor on playing time.

Goalie Joel Blomqvist was good against Washington in the loss, but since the Penguins beat LA, expect Nedeljkovic to get the second-straight start. Sullivan will announce the starting goalie and any injury updates at 8 p.m. EST (two hours before game time).

Since winning two in a row to begin 2025, Anaheim has gone cold. They are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games and were swept in a home-and-home series with the Florida Panthers, losing at home, 5-2 on Tuesday.

Anaheim does have a secret weapon. Forward Frank Vatrano has 10 in 21 career games against the Penguins. After practice, PHN had a little fun with him about the anomaly.

Ducks goalie John Gibson (you may have heard 1000 times that he’s from Pittsburgh?) stopped 42 of 44 against Florida last Saturday. Lukas Dostal was burned for five goals on Tuesday. Pittsburgh Hockey Now will update the story if Anaheim announces a starting goalie this morning.

Former Penguins forward Jansen Harkins is back in the Anaheim lineup after being called up from the AHL. However, fellow former Penguins forward Brock McGinn is on IR.

Penguins fans may also remember defenseman Brian Dumoulin who wears two Stanley Cup rings from his 10 years with the Penguins.

Penguins Lines

Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Michael Bunting-Evgeni Malkin-Cody Glass

Anthony Beauvillier-Kevin Hayes-Philip Tomasino

Drew O’Connor-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari

Defense

Marcus Pettersson-Kris Letang

Matt Grzelcyk-Erik Karlsson

Owen Pickering-P.O Joseph

Goalies: Alex Nedelkovic/Joel Blomqvist

Ducks Lines

Frank Vatrano-Ryan Strome-Troy Terry

Trevor Zegras-Leo Carlsson-Alex Killorn

Cutter Gauthier-Mason McTavish-Robby Fabbri

Nikita Nesterenko-Jansen Harkins-Leason

Defense

Jackson LaCombe-Radko Gudas

Pavel Mintyukov-Jacob Trouba

Brian Dumoulin-Olwen Zellweger

Goalies: John Gibson/Lukas Dostal

Special Teams

Penguins power play: 27.1%, 4th. Penguins penalty kill: 78.8%, 16th.

Ducks Power Play: 13.1%, 31st. Ducks Penalty Kill: 73.7%, 27th.

Game Notes

The Penguins like to go Duck hunting, with wins in eight of their last 10 games against Anaheim (8-2-0). Going back further, the Penguins are 15-6-0 in their last 21 vs. Anaheim. The Penguins have won the last three games here.

Look out for Sidney Crosby. He has multiple points in six of his last 17 games against the Ducks and 23 points overall during that stretch (9-14-23).

Kevin Hayes has seven points (4-3-7) in his last six games vs. Ducks.

The Penguins are 4-for-7 (57.1%) on the power play in the first three games of the road trip.

The Penguins have an overall record of 399-90-49 when both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin record a point in a game.