Ducks Rally Late Past Penguins

Photo: NHL

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks started their road trip in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Ville Husso was in net against Arturs Silovs. Anaheim rolled with the same lineup against Chicago.

The Penguins scored right before the halfway point of the first period. Noel Acciari won a face-off from the left circle and then wristed the puck past Husso.

The Ducks tied up the game early in the second period. Jackson LaCombe skated in from the side of the net and roofed the puck over Silovs.

Troy Terry then scored with just under six minutes left in the middle frame to make it a 2-1 Anaheim lead. Terry got to the puck in the offensive zone and then beat Silovs high in close.

Thomas Novak then scored for the Penguins with about 20 seconds left in the period. After Husso blocked a point shot, Novak got to the rebound taking a quick shot, which Husso blocked, but then Novak beat him on the follow up.

Anthony Mantha scored on the power play with with just under four minutes to go in the third period. Pittsburgh went back on the power play with about 18 seconds to go, but Beckett Sennecke was able to score with just 0.1 left. He charged the net, threw the puck towards it and it went in off Erik Karlsson.

There was no scoring in overtime and a shootout would be needed to determine a winner. Leo Carlsson scored and Husso stopped all three attempts by the Penguins to complete the comeback win.

Analysis:

Wow! What an amazing comeback win for the Ducks! Anaheim didn’t play their best game, but they were able to tie the game in literally the final tenth of a second of the game and then won in the shootout. The Ducks gave up 16 shots on goal and found themselves down 1-0 after the opening 20 minutes.

In the second period, the Ducks scored twice taking a 2-1 lead, but the Penguins scored late to tie it up. In the third the Penguins scored again and had a 3-2 lead late in regulation. Chris Kreider was called for a penalty with about 18 seconds left and it looked like the Pens would win. But enter Sennecke who charged the net in the dying seconds and threw the puck on net for the score. Karlsson stopped the shot with his glove, but deflected it into his own net. Upon review the puck crossed the goal line with 0.1 left in regulation.

There was no scoring in the overtime and Husso shut the door in the shootout. Leo Carlsson scored and that’s all the Ducks needed to win 4-3.

The Ducks managed to find a way to win despite being outshot 47 to 28. The Penguins posted a CF% of 61.79% and FF% of 64.89% at even strength. Pittsburgh put 76 shot attempts at even strength to 46 for Anaheim. The Penguins had 22 high danger chances to just 4 for the Ducks. Pittsburgh did an excellent job of limiting the Ducks chances by breaking up plays and creating turnovers. Husso proved to be the difference in this contest stopping 44 of 47 shots on goal and all three shootout attempts.

Team Notes/Stats:

Sennecke leads all rookies with 10 goals and 26 total points

Sennecke became the third Ducks rookie to score 10 or more goals through 30 goals in a season.

Sennecke became the fastest teenager in a season to reach 25 points in Ducks history(30 games).

Sennecke late goal heroics tied Scott Niedermayer (59:59 on Nov 21st, 2008) for the latest game tying goal in franchise history.

What’s Next?

Ducks play the New York Islanders Thursday at 4PM.

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December 9th, 2025