Recap: Anaheim vs. Pittsburgh

Published online on Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Pascal Dupuis netted the game-winning goal midway through the third period, as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Anaheim Ducks, 4-3, at Honda Center.

Alex Goligoski, Michael Rupp and Kris Letang also scored for the Penguins, who have won three of their last four games. Pittsburgh also improved its 2009-10 road record to a perfect 7-0-0. Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves in the win.

"I think from this particular game, there is a lot that we can do a better job of," said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. "But it was a team effort."

Corey Perry scored twice for the struggling Ducks, who are now 1-5-1 in their last seven games overall. Saku Koivu also lit the lamp in the loss.

"We put in a good effort, but it's still a loss," said Perry. "If we keep playing (hard), the bounces have to come for us. We're playing a little stronger and trying to put 60 minutes together."

Anaheim goaltender Jonas Hiller allowed four goals on 27 shots. Jean-Sebastien Giguere remains day-to-day with a nagging groin injury.

The third period began with the score tied 2-2, but the teams combined for three goals in a wild span of 1:18.

First, the Pens moved ahead 3-2 at the 7:55 mark via Goligoski's sixth goal. A great effort by Tyler Kennedy, who while diving poked the puck back into the high slot, set up an opportunity for a one-timer from the high center slot and Goligoski got every ounce of it.

But only 19 seconds later, the Ducks tied it up when Koivu's stuffer from the right post found its way through the pads of Fleury.

Pittsburgh, though, refused to be outdone. Less than a minute after Koivu's tally, the Pens regained the lead for good. With heavy traffic in front, Dupuis wound up from the centerpoint and blasted a slap shot that beat Hiller with 10:47 to play in regulation.

This marked Pittsburgh's first win in Anaheim since December 10, 1997.

Perry's blast from the slot 3:57 after the opening faceoff -- with an assist from Scott Niedermayer -- was the lone tally of the first period.

The Penguins knotted the contest at 1-1 in the early stages of the second stanza. Moments after a rebound attempt by Goligoski, who missed a wide open net, the puck caromed onto the stick of Rupp, who held control inside the left circle. Rupp's wrist shot hit Hiller's blocker, but made its way behind him and trickled over the goal line at 2:39.

Midway through the second, the Pens moved ahead on Letang's first goal of the season. However, with 3:59 remaining before the second intermission, the hosts again tied the score. Ryan Getzlaf fired a wrister from the left circle that was saved by Fleury, but the rebound sat in the crease and Perry punched it home from in close.

Game Notes