Kreider’s three-point night lifts Ducks to 4-3 win over Penguins – Hockey Writers – NHL News
The Anaheim Ducks will face the Pittsburgh Penguins at home for the first time in the 2025-26 regular season. The Ducks (2-1-0) came into the game coming off a 7-6 overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins (2-2-0) are looking for a rebound win after losing 6-1 to the New York Rangers. Anaheim ended up winning 4-3 on a three-point night from Chris Kreider.
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Lukas Dostal made some key saves in his 23-save victory. Despite allowing four goals and taking the loss, Tristan Jarry was solid for the Penguins.
game review
The opening 20 minutes were entertaining and chaotic, with a few goals thrown in for good measure. The Penguins got off to a perfect start, scoring their first shot just 1:03 into the game with Justin Brazeau’s fourth goal of the season. The Ducks had a great chance to tie the game a few minutes later when Matt Dumba had the puck in the zone, but the bounce of the puck didn’t work in their favor.
Rickard Rakell extended the Penguins’ lead at 7:01 and Ryan Shea added his second assist of the game. The Ducks’ Kreider used their second power play of the period to pull within one point. Carter Gauthier tied the game at two with his third goal of the season as time expired. The Penguins almost regained the lead with 20 seconds left, but the crossbar saved the Ducks. Pittsburgh had a 15-7 field goal advantage in one quarter.
Anaheim found itself in a power struggle early in the second quarter. They created a lot of chances, but Low and Jarry turned down every one. With all the momentum in the period, the Ducks took their first lead of the night. Drew Helleson fired a shot from the penalty spot and the puck went through everyone and into the net. Anthony Mantha scored his first goal as a Penguin with 2:59 left in the second period after an odd bounce off a Ducks defender’s stick. On the first power play of the game, a big shot from Sidney Crosby put the Penguins back in front, but Radko Gudas did a great job blocking the shot and clearing it from the goal line.
In the third quarter, the two teams played closely. While both teams created zone time, the defense finished the offense by blocking shots. In 18 minutes, both teams took 4 shots each. Parker Wotherspoon made just one error, putting the puck out of the game with 1:34 remaining and the Ducks had a great game. Just six seconds into the game, Kreider scored his second goal and third point of the game, helping the Ducks defeat the Penguins 4-3.
The two teams will resume play Thursday night (October 16), with the game scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. The Ducks will continue at home against another Eastern Conference team, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Penguins will continue their California road trip, heading 30 miles north to Crypto.com Arena to take on the Los Angeles Kings.
