It was only fitting that, a game removed from pouring it on against the NHL’s stingiest defensive team, the Pittsburgh Penguins couldn’t keep the league’s least prolific offense in check.

The Penguins never seriously threatened against the Anahem Ducks on Thursday night at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and ultimately fell 5-1. Considering how well things went for the Penguins on Monday during their 5-1 drubbing of the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday’s result would have been a bit surprising for onlookers who haven’t closely followed the club this season.

The inconsistent Penguins did pick up where they left off against Los Angeles, as they drove play to start the contest, but had nothing to show for their efforts. Instead, the visitors faced a 2-0 deficit by the start of the first intermission.

Alex Nedeljkovic, who started for the third time in four games, made a couple saves on an excellent offensive sequence for Anaheim, but couldn’t make a third. Mason McTavish pounced on a loose puck for as easy a goal as it gets, and gave the Ducks a lead they would not concede. Alex Killorn scored Anaheim’s other goal in the frame.

Michael Bunting briefly made it an interesting contest early in the second period with his ninth power-play goal of the season, which was made possible courtesy of an excellent feed by Bryan Rust. A one-score deficit was as close as the Penguins could make the contest, though, as the Ducks rattled off the game’s next three goals, including an empty-netter from Killorn.

Ultimately, it was a disappointing effort from the Penguins against a Ducks team that had lost seven of its last eight games. The Penguins had won three straight games at Honda Center, but Whitehall’s John Gibson made sure the visitors wouldn’t up that run to four in a row.

A number of Gibson’s 31 saves on the evening were spectacular, including stonewalling Erik Karlsson on a 3-on-1 in the second period with his left skate. The Western Pennsylvania native improved his record to 6-8-1 against his hometown team, and in the process pushed the Penguins to their second loss four contests into their season-long seven game road trip.

Ice chips

— Rust exited the contest late in the second period with what the Penguins described as a lower-body injury. Rust did not return to the bench to start the third period. The Penguins’ second-leading scorer absorbed a significant hit from Radko Gudas late in the second period.

—Rickard Rakell rejoined the Penguins’ starting lineup after missing Monday’s game and briefly returning to Pittsburgh due to “family reasons”, per coach Mike Sullivan. Rakell returned to his usual spot at left wing on Sidney Crosby’s line.

—With Rakell back in the fold, Anthony Beauvillier bumped down to the third line.

—Blake Lizotte sat out Thursday night’s game due to illness, per the Penguins. Noel Acciari centered the fourth line in Lizotte’s absence. Drew O’Connor flanked Acciari to his right

—Bunting’s goal marked the Penguins’ 39th tally on the man advantage — or, one shy of how many power-play goals the Penguins put up across the entire 2023-24 campaign.

—It was a rough night for Pierre-Olivier Joseph, who took two penalties, took a huge hit from Killorn and finished the evening with a minus-3 rating. Across 15 games with the Penguins this season, Joseph has a minus-10 rating.

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