DeSmith Gets Shutout, Penguins Ground Ducks 1-0, Win 4th Straight

Casey DeSmith earned his second win of the season, his second win in five days, and his first shutout of the season as the Pittsburgh Penguins (13-8-5) won their fourth in a row by shutting out the Anaheim Ducks 1-0 Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.

Brock McGinn scored the lone goal and the Penguins clamped down defensively. The Penguins won their fourth in a row, and have allowed only four goals in that span.

The Penguins first goal came with some confusion. Midway through the first period, Zach Aston-Reese stickhandled around a defender at the blue line. With a step on the defense, Aston-Reese zipped a perfect backhand saucer to Brock McGinn (7) who one-timed the puck past Anaheim goalie John Gibson.

The play was close to offside and it appeared that Anaheim head coach Dallas Eakins challenged, and officials reviewed. Without public explanation, the goal stood, but officials did not assess a minor penalty–which led Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan to have a little chat with officials.

It was later revealed the Anaheim bench’s replay was not working, which led to the confusion.

That was the only goal of the game.

Gibson only played two periods. He suffered a lower-body injury and did not return for the third period. He stopped 15 of 16 shots. Anthony Stolarz took the net for the third period.

Anaheim outshot the Penguins 8-6 in the first period, but the Penguins missed four and Anaheim blocked seven shots. The stat doesn’t count time of possession which heavily favored the Penguins, too.

Casey DeSmith was stellar in the second period as Anaheim pressured the Penguins. DeSmith had to stop Troy Terry on a breakaway and two-on-one. He nullified each with steady positioning which left shooters without options.

DeSmith stopped all 33 shots. He was especially good in the second period and stopped all 12.

Kasperi Kapanen did not have the follow-up performance to his A+ game on Friday in Washington. Kapanen was without a shot or shot attempt in the first 40 minutes. He finished with one shot on goal, no other attempts but four hits.

Anaheim’s top RW Troy Terry had a pretty good second period, though not great. He walked both Penguins top defensemen, Brian Dumoulin and Kris Letang, just minutes apart. However, Terry didn’t slip one past DeSmith.

Terry led all players with five shots. Drew O’Connor and Jason Zucker each had four shots for the Penguins. Zucker and Brian Boyle paced the Penguins with five hits.

The Penguins PK killed off two more chances against. The Penguins have killed 30 straight.