Gibson makes 28 saves as Anaheim defeats Pittsburgh 3-2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — John Gibson made 28 saves, Brendan Guhle scored the winning goal in the second period and the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Friday night.

Danton Heinen and Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Ducks, who have won two straight for the first time in over three weeks. Anaheim was missing its top three defensemen.

Jason Zucker scored both of Pittsburgh’s goals. The left wing has 19 goals, with five coming in nine games with Pittsburgh since he was acquired from Minnesota.

The Penguins have five straight regulation losses for the first time since the 2011-12 season. They have gone from leading the Metropolitan Division to third place during the skid. Matt Murray stopped 18 shots.

Despite being outshot 12-2 in the first period, the Ducks opened the scoring at 14:14 of the first period when Heinen took a centering pass from Kiefer Sherwood and chipped it past Murray. It was Heinen’s first goal and second point since he was traded from Boston to Anaheim on Monday.

Zucker evened it with a power-play goal 76 seconds into the second when he redirected Marcus Pettersson’s shot past Gibson’s stick and blocker.

Getzlaf and the Ducks regained the lead eight minutes later on the power play when he put home a rebound after Sam Steel’s shot hit the post. Guhle made it a two-goal advantage when his wrist shot went off Penguins defenseman Zach Trotman with 2:40 remaining in the second. It is Guhle’s third of the season and second in his last six games.

The goal came after Gibson robbed Bryan Rust of a short-handed breakaway goal with a save off his left pad.

Zucker gave Pittsburgh one last chance when he scored with 1:21 remaining after the Penguins brought on the extra skater.

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh: Travels to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.

Anaheim: Hosts the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.