Casey DeSmith Records Shutout In Penguins 1-0 Victory Over The Ducks
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Casey DeSmith stopped all 33 shots he faced, and Brock McGinn gave the Pittsburgh Penguins the only goal they needed for a 1-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.
It was DeSmith's seventh career shutout and first of the season, and his second straight win in his sixth appearance.
McGinn scored his seventh of the season on Pittsburgh's first shot of the game, 5:12 into the first period. He beat Ducks goalie John Gibson with a one-timer from the right faceoff dot off the rush, set up by Zach Aston-Reese with a backhand pass to the blueline.
Sidney Crosby's seven-game point streak ended, but Pittsburgh won its fourth straight game and ninth in 12 games.
Ducks' captain Ryan Getzlaf returned from injury and nearly tied the game in the final seconds, but DeSmith denied a point shot with his left pad. It ended Anaheim's six-game point streak.
Gibson stopped 15 of 16 shots through two periods for Anaheim before he left with a lower-body injury. Anthony Stolarz started the third period and made 13 saves.
DEFENSE
Pittsburgh has allowed four goals in its last four games and 18 goals in a 12-game span. The Penguins have nine wins during that stretch, which began with a 6-0 victory at Montreal on Nov. 18.
GETZLAF RETURNS
Getzlaf played for the first time since a Nov. 30 injury against Los Angeles. While he was considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury, he only missed five games. Getzlaf had three shots and won seven of 14 faceoffs in 21:25. The Ducks went 3-0-2 without Getzlaf, who recorded his 1,000th career point last month.
PENALTY KILLERS
The Penguins and Ducks have penalty-killing units ranked among the top three in the league.
No. 1 Pittsburgh has killed 30 consecutive penalties in 13 games, which continues a franchise record.
Anaheim, which ranks third, has killed eight penalties since Dec. 3, and 41 of the last 46 power plays since Oct. 29.
UP NEXT
Ducks: Close a five-game trip at St. Louis on Sunday.
Penguins: Continue a three-game homestand Tuesday against Montreal.
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