Penguins fall in Metropolitan, lose to Ducks for fifth straight defeat

ANAHEIM --The Pittsburgh Penguins extended their season-long losing streak to five games, 3-2 to the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday.

The Penguins have lost five in a row in regulation for the first time since a six-game losing streak from Dec. 29, 2011 to Jan. 11, 2012. They dropped into third place in the Metropolitan Division, one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers and four points behind the Washington Capitals.
"We've got to stay together and find solutions together, and that's what we'll do," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "We've got to pick ourselves up and get back in the fight. We've got another opportunity in front of us Saturday] night [at the San Jose Sharks]."
***[WATCH: [All Penguins vs. Ducks highlights]*
John Gibson made 28 saves and Danton Heinen scored his first goal for the Ducks (26-30-8), who have won back-to-back games on the same homestand for the first time since Oct. 29-Nov. 1.
"We all played really well together," Gibson said. "I thought that was one of the better team games we've played in a long time. I'm just really proud of how everybody played out there."

Jason Zucker scored two goals, and Matt Murray made 18 saves for the Penguins (37-20-6), who have been outscored 19-8 during the losing streak.
Zucker scored his second goal to make it 3-2 with 1:21 left and Murray pulled for an extra skater, but Gibson saved the final two shots.
The Penguins outshot the Ducks 10-2 in the first period and Anaheim didn't get its first shot on goal until 13:50.
Heinen scored on the second shot at 14:14 for a 1-0 lead.
Penguins defenseman Zach Trotman gave the puck away in the Pittsburgh zone and Anaheim defenseman Josh Manson took possession before dumping it behind the Penguins net. Kiefer Sherwood tapped a backhand pass out front to Heinen, whose shot deflected off Trotman into the net.
Heinen was one of five players in the Anaheim lineup who were acquired at the NHL Trade Deadline on Monday.
"Manson stepped up and made a good play to get the puck low," Heinen said. "Sherwood made a great little play up front and I got a lucky bounce."
Ryan Getzlaf received a double-minor with 56 seconds left in the first period, and Zucker tipped in a point shot by defenseman Marcus Pettersson during the second minor at 1:16 of the second to tie the score 1-1.
Pittsburgh defenseman Justin Schultz received a double-minor for high-sticking Getzlaf, who scored 34 seconds into the power play for a 2-1 lead at 9:23.
Getzlaf passed the puck diagonally from below the goal line to Sam Steel at the right face-off dot. Murray made a right pad save on Steel's wrist shot, but the rebound came out to Getzlaf, who hit the wide-open net.
Gibson made his best save while the Penguins were shorthanded when he extended his left pad on a shot by Bryan Rust at 16:02 of the second period.
"He made a big [save] there," Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said. "Then we ended up giving up one. Unfortunately, we had a couple go off us tonight and hit a couple posts, and things like that, but yeah, [Gibson] definitely played well."
Brendan Guhle scored from the high slot to make it 3-1 at 17:20.
The puck got behind Murray in the crease and Trotman swept it out to Evgeni Malkin, who missed it as he skated by. The puck continued to Guhle in the high slot, and his slap shot grazed off Trotman.

They said it

"It's important for us to stay positive right now. I think we're doing a lot of good things as a team. If we keep playing that way, the results are going to start turning." -- Penguins goalie Matt Murray
"That's a very good hockey team over there. I thought we played with a little snarl out there. When we do that, we usually play very well."-- Ducks coach Dallas Eakins

Need to know

Zucker has seven points (five goals, two assists) in nine games since he was acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 11. … The Penguins have allowed the first goal in eight of their past nine road games (3-6-0). ... The two shots by Anaheim in the first period are the fewest allowed by the Penguins against the Ducks in their history. ... Pittsburgh went 1-for-5 on the power play and is 2-for-27 (7.4 percent) in the past eight road games. ... Penguins forward Jared McCann returned after missing the 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday with an upper-body injury. ... Anaheim forward Sonny Milano assisted on Getzlaf's goal to give him three points (two goals, one assist) in two games since he was acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday.

What's next

Penguins:At the San Jose Sharks on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)
Ducks: Host the New Jersey Devils on Sunday (8 p.m. ET; PRIME, MSG+, NHL.TV)