Anaheim @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 11, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 7, Anaheim 4

The Anaheim Ducks vie for their first 4-0-0 start in franchise history on Thursday when they play the second contest of their four-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Ducks began a season with three wins on two occasions, including their Stanley Cup-winning campaign in 2006-07 in which they overcame a shootout loss in the fourth game to record a point in 16 straight contests (12-0-4).

John Gibson's sterling play has been the common theme in all three of Anaheim's victories this season, as the Pittsburgh native has turned aside 98 of 101 shots while allowing just one goal in each contest. "John Gibson has got a massive amount of leadership skills in him and he's the best goalie in the game," new coach Dallas Eakins said after his netminder's 31-save performance in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Detroit. While the Ducks are off to a strong start, the Penguins are facing early adversity in the form of long-term injuries to former Hart Trophy recipient Evgeni Malkin (lower body), Nick Bjugstad (lower body) and Bryan Rust (left hand) heading into the finale of their season-opening four-game homestand. Patric Hornqvist, who provides a key net-front presence, also sustained a lower-body injury midway through the first period on Tuesday as Pittsburgh was limited to just 10 forwards in its 4-1 setback to Winnipeg.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Prime (Anaheim), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE DUCKS (3-0-0): Jakob Silfverberg collected a goal and an assist and Rickard Rakell and Nick Ritchie also scored as Anaheim showed its resolve in tallying three times in the third period on Tuesday. "OK, this is going to take 20 minutes," Silfverberg told the Orange County Register of the Ducks' mindset entering the final session. "We're only one goal behind. It hasn't been pretty for most of the night, but these feel really good when you come out on top at the end of the night." The 28-year-old Swede scored in Anaheim's 7-4 setback to Pittsburgh on Jan. 11, marking his lone goal in 14 career encounters with the club.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (1-2-0): Superstar captain Sidney Crosby recorded his 1,220th career point to pass Hall of Famer Jean Beliveau for 41st place on the NHL's career list after scoring his first goal of the season just 32 seconds into Tuesday's contest. Jake Guentzel, who joined defenseman Kris Letang in notching their second assist of the season, highlighted his team-leading 40-goal total with a hat trick against Anaheim on Jan. 11. Letang set up a goal in each of the two encounters versus the Ducks to raise his point total to 11 (two goals, nine assists) in 13 career meetings.

OVERTIME

1. Pittsburgh placed Alex Galchenyuk on injured reserve Wednesday and recalled fellow F Adam Johnson from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis.

2. Gibson owns a 4-4-0 record with one shutout, a 3.80 goals-against average and .886 save percentage in eight career starts versus his hometown team.

3. Penguins G Matt Murray sports a 2-1-0 mark with a 3.34 goals-against average and .887 save percentage in three career meetings versus the Ducks.

PREDICTION: Penguins 3, Ducks 2