McTavish scores short-handed late, Ducks edge Penguins for 4th win in row

PITTSBURGH -- Mason McTavish had two goals and an assist, including the go-ahead, short-handed goal on a breakaway with 13 seconds remaining in the third period, for the Anaheim Ducks in a 4-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Monday.

McTavish, who was called for tripping at 17:41, took a pass from Adam Henrique as he exited the box before scoring his second goal of the period on a wrist shot. He previously tied it 3-3 at 3:01 with a wrist shot in front after collecting a spinning slap pass from Ryan Strome.

Prior to the go-ahead goal, Pittsburgh had a 5-on-3 for 1:49 after Sam Carrick was called for delay of game at 17:52.

“Probably didn't deserve to win that game, but sometimes that's just the way hockey kind of goes,” said McTavish, who has eight points (four goals, four assists) during a five-game point streak. “I was sitting in the box on the 5-on-3 there. I was just praying to God that we'd get the kills. Obviously, it was a great job.”

Frank Vatrano scored his ninth goal in nine games this season, and John Gibson left with an upper-body injury late in the first period after making six saves on seven shots for the Ducks (5-4-0), who won each game of a four-game road trip. Lukas Dostal made 33 saves in relief.

It is the first time Anaheim has won four consecutive road games since Dec. 17-23, 2013.

Erik Karlsson and Evgeni Malkin each had a goal and an assist, and Tristan Jarry made 23 saves for the Penguins (3-6-0), who have lost five of six.

“When you look at the way the games are being played here the last handful of games, there’s been significant amounts of time we’ve been the better team,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. “Right now, we’re finding ways to lose. We have to find ways to win.

“Do we have to make some changes? We might have to.”

Karlsson put the Penguins ahead 1-0 at 2:55 of the first, scoring on a one-timer from just above the right circle on a power play.

Jakob Silfverberg tied it 1-1 with his first goal this season at 8:28, going backhand to forehand around the left post with Jarry down.

Gibson sustained his injury with three seconds left in the period after he made a spinning stick save on Sidney Crosby during a power play.

"I talked to [Gibson] and he said I might need to go in,” Dostal said. “I don't like to see that because I really like John. He's a good mentor for me. I was sad to see him [get injured], but it's just the circumstances and I just have to deal with it.”

Vatrano gave the Ducks a 2-1 lead at 11:51 of the second, scoring a power-play goal on a snap shot from the left circle.

Malkin tied it 2-2 at 19:25 with a one-timer on a 5-on-3 power play.

“Between wins and losses, it’s one mistake,” Malkin said. “We should play better. The team fights all night. We can’t play like this.”

Malkin's goal came after one from Ross Johnston was waved off at 18:20. It was determined that Carrick interfered with Jarry, and the ruling was upheld after an Anaheim challenge and video review.

Ducks coach Greg Cronin was then assessed two bench penalties, one for a delay of game from the unsuccessful challenge and another for unsportsmanlike conduct. Cronin was given a game misconduct and ejected at 19:25.

“Our guys are awesome,” Cronin said. “I came in and I apologized. I said, 'Hey, quite frankly, I could've cost us two points there.' I told them, I said, 'It's on me.' I gave them the feedback on what we needed to do to win.

“We didn't play that well but we ended up winning. It was a goofy ending. That was probably one for the ages.”

Radim Zohorna gave Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead at 1:25 of the third on a backhand near the left post.

“Obviously, when you’re losing games, that’s the hardest part,” Jarry said. “You never want to lose. You play the game to win. I don’t think I’ve been giving the guys enough of a chance to win every night.”

NOTES: McTavish is the fifth player in NHL history to score a go-ahead, short-handed goal at 19:47 of the third period or later (regular season or Stanley Cup Playoffs), joining Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bob Pulford (19:38 in Game 1 of the 1964 Stanley Cup Final), Philadelphia Flyers forward Mike Knuble (19:56 on Nov. 12, 2005), Montreal Canadiens forward Peter Mahovlich (19:56 on Nov. 21, 1963) and Penguins forward Dave Hannan (19:55 on Dec. 6, 1988). … Silfverberg played his 700th game with the Ducks. ... Crosby had the secondary assist on Malkin’s goal. It was his 957th assist in 1,199 games, passing Mark Recchi (956 assists in 1,652 games) for 15th-most in NHL history.