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Pens lose on shorthanded goal in closing seconds

By Dan Scifo associated Press 3 min read
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Anaheim Ducks' Jackson LaCombe (60) attempts to check Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) off the puck behind the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Anaheim Ducks' Troy Terry (19) defends against Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, left, stops a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins' Drew O'Connor (10) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Lars Eller (20) cannot get his stick on the puck with Anaheim Ducks' Cam Fowler (4) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Lars Eller (20) controls the puck in front of Anaheim Ducks' Leo Carlsson (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Anaheim Ducks' Frank Vatrano (77) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Anaheim Ducks' Radko Gudas, right, checks Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) off the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Jake Guentzel (59) watches as a slapshot by Penguins' Evgeni Malkin gets past Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) with Ducks' Ilya Lyubushkin (46) defending for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates after his power play goal with teammates Rickard Rakell (67) and Erik Karlsson (65) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) celebrates after his power play goal with teammate Rickard Rakell (67) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.

PITTSBURGH — Mason McTavish scored a short-handed goal with 11.9 seconds to play and the Anaheim Ducks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 on Monday night.

Pittsburgh was on a two-man advantage for 1:49 at the end of the third period because of a tripping call on McTavish and a separate delay of game penalty. Adam Henrique intercepted a Penguins’ pass and pushed it to McTavish, who beat Tristan Jarry on a breakaway.

It was McTavish’s second of the game and fifth of the season. McTavish and Ryan Strome are both on five-game point streaks.

Frank Vatrano scored his ninth goal and Jakob Silfverberg scored in his 700th game with Anaheim.

John Gibson stopped six shots but left after the first period with an upper-body injury. Lukas Dostal made 32 saves in relief for the Ducks, who swept a four-game road trip. It was the fifth time, and first since the 2013-14 season, that Anaheim swept a road trip of at least four games.

Erik Karlsson scored his second of the season and first goal at home for Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin also scored with the man advantage, as Pittsburgh snapped its 0-for-16 power-play slump, which spanned six games and dated back to Oct. 13.

Radim Zohorna also scored for the Penguins, who have lost two straight and five of six overall.

Sidney Crosby recorded an assist and moved into sole possession of 15th place on the NHL’s all-time assists list, surpassing Hall of Famer and former teammate Mark Recchi.

Tristan Jarry made 23 saves for the Penguins.

Silfverberg, who scored Anaheim’s first goal, is one goal from tying Steve Rucchin for sixth in team history. Silfverberg is also one point from tying former Duck — and current Penguin — Rickard Rakell for seventh with Anaheim.

Malkin tied the game 2-all 19:25 into the second period with the Penguins’ second power-play goal, a slap shot from the top of the right circle.

Pittsburgh was awarded the power play after Anaheim’s Ross Johnston appeared to score, but the goal was waved off because of goaltender interference. The Ducks unsuccessfully challenged and Pittsburgh was given a two-man advantage when Anaheim coach Greg Cronin was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Before the game, the Ducks joined Penguins’ players at center ice for a pregame tribute to Adam Johnson, who died Saturday after his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England. He was 29.

Johnson joined the Penguins’ organization in 2017 and he skated in 13 NHL games with Pittsburgh in 2019 and 2020.

The Penguins added “AJ 47” decals to their helmets and started the third line on Monday.

UP NEXT

Ducks: Begin a five-game homestand Wednesday against Arizona.

Penguins: Open a three-game West Coast road trip Saturday at San Jose.

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