The Anaheim Ducks (12-27-4), one of the NHL’s top penalty killing teams, travel to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins (21-15-6) and their weak power play offense at PPG Paints Arena on Monday. Anaheim is playing their first of six games on the road coming off a high-scoring 6-2 loss against the Devils on Friday, their third straight defeat.
The Ducks took advantage of their power play opportunities, scoring once on four shots, while also conceding a power play goal. Adam Henrique and Trevor Zegras each scored once for the Ducks. Henrique added an assist to lead the team in scoring. John Gibson saved only 33 of 39 shots against (.846%) in the loss.
Pittsburgh fell 2-1 to the Hurricanes on Saturday. Rickard Rakell netted the only goal for the Penguins. Casey DeSmith had a great performance with 34 saves (.944%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Penguins won both games between the teams last season, including a 4-1 victory in their final meeting in January. Evgeni Malkin led Pittsburgh with three points (2G 1A). Jakob Silfverberg scored Anaheim’s only goal. Tristan Jarry got the win, saving 25 of 26 shots (.961%).
FACING OFF
Anaheim is averaging 2.26 goals per game for the season, worst in the NHL, and they are taking on a Penguins team that is allowing 3.02 goals a game (16th). Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has found the net 3.19 times a game on average, 16th in the league, and the Ducks are allowing opponents to score a league-worst 4.16 goals per game.
Expect several power play opportunities for the Penguins, as the Ducks are averaging 4.67 penalties per game, second-most in the NHL. The visitors’ 11.60 penalty minutes a game ranks fourth-highest. The home team has been penalized 3.50 times a game (7th-fewest in the league) for an average of 7.50 minutes (4th-fewest).
The Ducks’ 32nd-ranked power play offense (14.29%) will face a challenging test against the Penguins, who are the league’s second-best penalty killing team (84.21%). Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has scored on 20.81% of their power play opportunities (19th), which the home team will be seeking to add to against Anaheim’s 30th-ranked 71.05% penalty killing rate.
TOP PERFORMERS:
Troy Terry and Zegras have been the top skaters for the Ducks this season with 34 and 32 points. In the net, Anthony Stolarz (3-5-0) is Anaheim’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 3.88 GAA and a .893% save percentage. Gibson (7-19-3) leads the Ducks in games played in goal.
He has a GAA of 4.14 and a save percentage of .894%.Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins in scoring with 48 points. He has 21 goals and 27 assists. Jarry (15-5-4) has the best goals against average for Pittsburgh at 2.75. He has a save percentage of .918%.
HOME AND AWAY
Anaheim is 4-14-3 on the road this season. Pittsburgh is 11-5-4 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Pittsburgh Penguins (-350)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
