Their triumph over the Blue Jackets gave them eight wins in their last nine games (8-1-0), trailing only Tampa Bay (8-0-1) for the best record over that span. Furthermore, the Ducks have gone 10-2-0 in their last 12 contests, tied for second in the NHL, trailing only the Lightning at 10-1-1. Anaheim has won five straight games on the road, tying the NHL's longest active road winning streak and representing the club's longest since Feb. 13-March 5, 2016 (6-0-0).
The Ducks will look to continue their winning ways tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Game time is set for 4 p.m. PT with TV and radio coverage on Prime Ticket and AM 830, respectively. With an 18-11-5 record for 44 points, the Ducks have their most wins and points through 34 games over the last four seasons (from the start of 2015-16). They also have their most wins through 15 road games in the last four seasons (8-7-0). A win tonight would give them victories in six consecutive road contests, achieved five times prior, including a franchise-best seven-game road win streak during the 2006-07 campaign.
They've been getting offense throughout the lineup. Team captain Ryan Getzlaf has four assists/points in his last three games, nine points (2g/7a) in his last eight and 14 points (4g/10a) in his last 13. Getzlaf leads the team in points (26), assists (18) and points per game (.93), and ranks tied for third in goals (8). Ondrej Kase has six points (4g/2a) in his last three games, including his first career hat trick on December 12 vs. Dallas. Kase also has 14 points (8g/6a) and a +9 rating in his last 13 games. Defenseman Brandon Montour has six points (2g/4a) in his last three games and 13 points (4g/9a) and a +9 rating in his last 13. Montour became the first NHL defenseman to record four points in the third period in 12 years when he recorded a goal and three assists on December 12 vs. Dallas. Leading the Ducks in goals (10), Pontus Aberg enters tonight's game with seven points (4g/3a) in his last seven games, while Jakob Silfverberg has four goals in his last five games.
Tonight's matchup opens a two-game season series between the Ducks and Penguins. Anaheim is 13-18-3 all-time vs. Pittsburgh and swept the two-game season series last season. A win tonight would give the Ducks three straight victories over the Penguins, something they've done only twice in franchise history (last: Oct. 27, 1999-Dec. 15, 2002, 3-0-0).
Daniel Sprong will face his former team for the first time since the Ducks acquired him via trade exactly two weeks ago. Since joining the Ducks, Sprong has three goals in regulation/overtime (a career high for goals in a season) and recorded the game-deciding goal in his first career shootout attempt on December 9 vs. New Jersey. The 21-year-old right wing recorded his second career two-goal game and his first career OT goal with a +2 rating in Anaheim's 2-1 victory over the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
This will also mark the first time Marcus Pettersson faces the Ducks since the trade with the Penguins. Pettersson has appeared in seven games with the Pens, earning a +3 rating while averaging 15:26 TOI. Three Penguins share the team lead in points with 35 - Sidney Crosby (15g/20a), Phil Kessel (14g/21a) and Evgeni Malkin (10g/25a). Crosby has 14 points (4g/10a) in his last eight home games, while Jake Guentzel has 13 points (7g/6a) in an active eight-game home point streak. The Penguins have gone 6-3-1 over their last 10 games and have won two in a row.
