Another failed 5-on-3 power play dooms Penguins in road loss to Ducks

King Jemison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 8, 2026

Published in Hockey

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Well, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ good vibes didn’t last long.

After snapping a four-game losing streak with a win in Los Angeles on Saturday, they fell way behind in Anaheim, Calif., on Sunday and couldn’t complete a comeback. The Ducks beat the Penguins 5-2 at the Honda Center.

The game turned on a bungled 5-on-3 power play for Pittsburgh in the second period. They failed to convert despite 1:37 with two extra skaters. The Ducks then capitalized on their own power play to take a multi-goal lead they would hold the rest of the game.

But after falling behind 4-0, the Penguins pushed hard in the closing stretch. With Arturs Silovs on the bench for the extra attacker, they scored two power-play goals and could’ve cut further into the lead if not for some impressive saves from Anaheim netminder Laurent Brossoit.

He was excellent throughout, making 32 saves on 34 shots. The Penguins largely played well, although they gave up their usual assortment of odd-man rushes and high-danger chances.

Cutter Gauthier had a hat trick for the Ducks. They did much of their damage on the power play.

The game got off to a frantic start. The Penguins applied some heavy pressure, but Brossoit had the answers. And then the Ducks’ power play, one of the best in the league, got an early chance.

They cashed in just after the penalty expired. Gauthier’s long shot was blocked, but Mikael Granlund collected the rebound in the slot and fired it past Silovs.

The Penguins controlled play for much of the opening period. Brossoit made a number of tough glove saves to keep them off the board, and Anaheim’s 1-0 lead carried to the first intermission.

Pittsburgh had a deflating sequence early in the second period that was strikingly reminiscent of their bungled late-game scenario Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Penguins got 1:37 of a 5-on-3, plus more than two minutes of additional power play time thanks to a high-sticking double minor on the Ducks.

They had just one shot in the 5-on-3 period, although they would’ve scored if not for a fortuitous block by Jackson LaCombe’s skate.

And just after the extended power play expired, the Ducks predictably got their own man-advantage — and made it count. Cutter Gauthier rocketed in a no-look shot from the circle to make it 2-0 Anaheim.

And Gauthier quickly extended the lead. With all three forwards in the Penguins’ top line high in the zone, Granlund took control of the puck along the boards and snuck a puck through traffic to one of the league’s most dangerous goal-scorers in the slot.

The Ducks’ 3-0 advantage held to the second intermission. Brossoit denied several good looks for the Penguins, particularly on Erik Karlsson.

The Ducks kept pouring it on early in the third period and capitalized on another power play. Tristan Luneau wired a shot past Silovs with traffic in front of the net.

The Penguins finally broke up the shutout with about 12 minutes to play. Kris Letang scored his first of the season on the power play. Penguins coach Dan Muse pulled Silovs with the man-advantage, and it paid off.

It worked once, so Muse did it again. He kept Silovs on the bench for another power play later in the period, and longtime Duck Rickard Rakell cashed a feed from Sidney Crosby to make it 4-2 with just more than six minutes to play.

The Penguins kept pushing with the extra skater from there. Gauthier sealed it with an empty-netter in the final minute.

Around the boards

— Ville Koivunen missed Sunday’s game with a lower-body injury. He’s day to day.

— In Koivunen’s absence, Andrei Kuzmenko reentered the lineup on the third line with Hendrix Lapierre and Justin Brazeau.

— Rutger McGroarty was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday. He did not play.

Up next

The Penguins complete their California road trip Wednesday at the San Jose Sharks. It’ll be a late one for Pittsburghers — puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET.

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