The Ducks beat the Flyers in an earlier meeting, the only one of their six straight victories that did not come by way of a third-period comeback. They also beat the Pittsburgh Penguins during that road trip but have no prospects of a Keystone State sweep since those same Penguins prevailed, 2-0, on Tuesday at Honda Center. A disallowed goal as the buzzer loomed put a gleam in the Ducks’ eyes, but there was no late-game magic this time.

“There’s belief in our team and there’s a no-quit attitude, which is important. But it’s a hard way to live over the course of the season, so we need to figure out a way to get some more goals early, some first-period goals really get that momentum going,” said defenseman Cam Fowler, the senior-most Duck.

In Philadelphia, these two clubs clashed on Oct. 29, when the Ducks put up seven goals on the Flyers. They faced backup goalie Samuel Ersson in that game. Of the Flyers’ five victories, No. 1 goalie Carter Hart had earned four of them. A mid-body injury had kept him out of action since the 10-minute mark of a loss against Buffalo on Nov. 1, but Hart and Philadelphia coach John Tortorella both confirmed to reporters Thursday that he’d be good to go Friday.

For the Ducks, Trevor Zegras was off the ice Thursday for a maintenance day, as were Mason McTavish and Jakob Silfverberg as the forwards dealt with a minor illness. All are expected to play on Friday.

Whether the Ducks ride the hot hand of veteran John Gibson or turn back to October NHL Rookie of the Month Lukáš Dostál, they should have a strong counter for Hart. Dostál has five of the Ducks’ seven wins and only one loss. Gibson has stopped 64 of 67 shots across a statement victory over defending champion Vegas and Tuesday’s unsatisfying loss to Pittsburgh in which Gibson surrendered just one goal while making several jaw-dropping stops.

“He made some huge saves. He made a couple in the second period that were post-to-post saves,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “You’ve got two good goalies like that, you’ve got a chance to win every night.”

While Gibson and his defense combined to give the Ducks every opportunity to keep their stone rolling, they put up a big, mossy zero on the scoreboard Tuesday. Close-range chances were somewhat scarce and follow-up bids were all but nonexistent. They’ve won every game in which they’ve scored three or more goals this season, but offensive consistency has proven largely elusive.

“We went through that earlier in the year, we were playing really well but wouldn’t score, then we got some goals during the streak. Now we’ve got to find a way to get them back,” Cronin said.

The Flyers could present a solid opportunity for the Ducks to find a rhythm offensively despite the return of Hart and oh-so-complete center Sean Couturier. He was also injured against Buffalo but returned to face San Jose on Tuesday. In that game, the Sharks got their first win of the heretofore miserable season, earning the Flyers some ignominious recognition.

Travis Konecny, who leads the Flyers in goals and points alike, tallied twice against the Ducks in last month’s matchup. Former Duck Nicolas Deslauriers provides muscle for the Flyers and could be busy Friday given the Ducks’ offseason acquisition of tough customers Ross Johnston, Radko Gudas and Ilya Lyubushkin. On defense, former junior Duck Cam York has become a regular for Philly, but at 22 he is still very much learning the ins and outs of an NHL blue line.

PHILADELPHIA AT DUCKS

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Honda Center

How to watch: Bally Sports West

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, center, gets in a scuffle with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Noel Acciari, left, and Marcus Pettersson, right, during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Ducks and the Penguins pile up near the goal as the Ducks try to prevent the Pittsburgh Penguins from scoring during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Ducks center Mason McTavish, right, and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves vie for the puck during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks center Mason McTavish, right, and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves vie for the puck during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  The puck gets past Ducks goaltender John Gibson for a goal by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Radim Zohorna during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Radim Zohorna, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against the Ducks during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Radim Sohorna, center, celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Erik Karlsson (65), Drew O’Connor (10), Marcus Pettersson (28) and Lars Eller celebrate a goal by Radim Sohorna (63) during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Urho Vaakanainen, left, and Ross Johnston defend against the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Reilly Smith during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang controls the puck during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks goaltender John Gibson makes a save during the first period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Radim Sohorna, left, attempts to skate past the Ducks’ Cam Fowler during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Troy Terry, front, controls the puck past the defense of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang, right, during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ryan Graves shoots the puck during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  From left, Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano, center Mason McTavish, and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson chase down the puck during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  The Ducks’ Cam Fowler, left, and goaltender John Gibson defend against Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Radim Sohorna, left, attempts to skate past the Ducks’ Cam Fowler during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Troy Terry, left, and goaltender John Gibson, right, defend against a shot on goal by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Vinnie Himostroza during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Lars Eller, left, controls the puck as the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov defends during the first period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Noel Acciari (55) battles for the puck with the Ducks’ Alex Killorn, left, and Ilya Lyubushkin during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Ducks goaltender John Gibson makes a save as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin, right, lurks for a rebound during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Ducks’ Brett Leason, right, takes a shot as Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, left, defends his net during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry looks on during a pause in play in the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Ryan Strome, right, controls the puck past the defense of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Marcus Pettersson during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Ross Johnston, right, skates past the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ryan Graves during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, right, shoots the puck past the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin watches his shot attempt during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks goaltender John Gibson makes a save during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby stands during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg, top, collides with Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Referee Trevor Hanson escorts Pittsburgh Penguins starting goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) off the ice after he was injured during a collision in the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, left, leaves the ice after suffering a cut to his face during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, bottom, and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby vie for the puck during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, center, prepares to face off against Ducks center Sam Carrick during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, left, shoots past Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, left, reacts after making contact with Ducks center Mason McTavish, who lost his stick, during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks center Trevor Zegras, right, shoots in front of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras, left, talks with Mason McTavish during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Brett Leason, left, chases a loose puck alongside the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Erik Karlsson during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras, left, collides with Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Trevor Zegras, left, collides with Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Troy Terry, left, battles the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ryan Shea for a loose puck during the second period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Ducks center Ryan Strome, left, shoots as Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea defends during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  The Ducks’ Ross Johnston, center, attempts a backhand shot but it goes wide past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Magnus Hellberg during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Ducks’ Ross Johnston, right, lunges for a loose puck as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Marcus Pettersson, left, and goaltender Magnus Hellberg defend their net during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Ducks center Trevor Zegras, right, controls the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson defends during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  The Ducks’ Ilya Lyubushkin (46) and Pavel Mintyukov (34) defend against the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell, far right, during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano, left, and Pittsburgh Penguins center Lars Eller get into an altercation during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  The Ducks’ Urho Vaakanainen, right, pushes the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, right, checks the Ducks’ Urho Vaakanainen during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel, left, lunges at a loose puck as Ducks goaltender John Gibson defends his net during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel, left, lunges at a loose puck as Ducks goaltender John Gibson defends his net during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Ross Johnston skates during the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Radko Gudas, left, and goaltender John Gibson, right, defend against a shot by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell during the third period on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Marcus Pettersson, right, congratulates Sidney Crosby after his empty-net goal during the final minute of their 2-0 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, left, celebrates with the bench after scoring an empty-net goal with 19.5 seconds left in the third period of their 2-0 victory over the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  The Ducks’ Ilya Lyubushkin, left, consoles goaltender John Gibson after their 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell, a former Duck, stands during the national anthem before a game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

ANAHEIM — A star-studded matchup on paper produced a low-wattage game on the ice as the Pittsburgh Penguins crept past the Ducks, 2-0, on Tuesday night at Honda Center to snap a six-game winning streak that was the team’s longest in two years.

Despite the Ducks boasting one of the NHL’s leading goal-scorers (Frank Vatrano) and one of its stars of the week (Mason McTavish) and the Penguins having a core of three-time champions (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang) as well as the reigning Norris Trophy winner (Erik Karlsson), this one lacked allure with the only scoring coming on a fluky goal early and an empty-netter in the dying embers.

The two teams met eight days earlier in Pittsburgh in a game that produced seven goals, including Mason McTavish’s short-handed game-winner with 13 seconds left. Little of that energy carried over, though with 3:21 to play a goalmouth scramble gave way to a 10-man skirmish. The final horn was a death knell for the Ducks’ six-game surge.

“You get those runs and you just feel like you’ve got an extra attacker with you, you’ve got that confidence and the momentum. Yeah, it’s a bummer,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “But the guys have worked hard and I’m always proud of their compete, we just came up short tonight.”

Pittsburgh native John Gibson was a leviathan in goal, but he was saddled with a loss after making 34 saves as the Ducks were shut out for the first time this season. McTavish saw his seven-game point streak come to an end.

Radim Zohorna scored a greasy goal for Pittsburgh in the first period and Sidney Crosby found the empty net with 19.5 seconds to play. Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (21 saves) exited the game with a cut near his right eye after a collision with Ducks forward Adam Henrique, but he was the goalie of record before being replaced by Magnus Hellberg, and the two combined to deny 32 shots.

Pittsburgh appeared to seal the Ducks’ fate with Noel Acciari’s empty-net goal, but it was nullified on review because Jake Guentzel had entered the offensive zone offside. That gave the Ducks, who had already engineered five third-period comebacks in 11 games this season, a final opportunity to tie the score but instead it was Crosby lobbing the puck into a vacated cage from center ice.

“A lot of these wins have been come-from-behind wins, which is great, it shows that we’re always in the fight,” defenseman Cam Fowler said. “But, at some point, we need to start flipping that script so that we’re the ones protecting the lead.”

With 20 minutes to produce a goal against a backup netminder (actually a third-stringer since Alex Nedeljkovic is on injured reserve), the Ducks pressed hard in the third period. Rookie Leo Carlsson was among the players with strong chances late in both the second and third periods, as was Troy Terry, who struck the post with a lively shot attempt in the third.

“I kept telling them, ‘Look at the crowd. It’s Tuesday night, there are probably 14,000 people in here,’ and they were just begging for something good to happen,” Cronin said.

The second period was mostly well-structured from both sides, with a wild sequence in the middle of the period. Ilya Lyubushkin tripped Reilly Smith but was unable to prevent an odd-man rush that left Evgeni Malkin with a golden chance at a one-timer. Gibson snared it with his glove and Malkin tripped Jackson LaCombe 15 seconds later to negate Pittsburgh’s power play.

“He was unbelievable, he kept us in it for sure,” Ducks center Sam Carrick said of Gibson.

The Penguins had another man-advantage opportunity, for a full two minutes, but the Ducks killed the penalty thanks to a lunging save by Gibson after Brett Leason had earned a partial breakaway shorthanded only to miss the net. In the opposing crease, Jarry was forced out after Henrique’s posterior collided with his head, causing it to snap back and producing the cut that required attention in addition to any additional medical evaluation. Later, Gibson stoned Guentzel with a kick save to counter his wraparound attempt.

Gibson’s acrobatics in the middle 20 minutes carried over from the opening 20, when the Penguins’ efforts were intermittent but menacing as a third of their shots were high-danger scoring chances.

Around the 7:30 mark of the first period, Gibson denied Vinny Hinestroza on a diving bid from the doorstep, sending the Ducks the other way for their strongest early opportunity.

That save ended up delaying the inevitable, however, as Pittsburgh opened the scoring when Zohorna’s backhanded centering attempt hit Gibson’s leg, among other things, and banked into the net.

“They got a bounce, that’s a lucky break, but I think part of it is creating your own bounces too from time to time, and we didn’t do that tonight,” Fowler said.

The Penguins led 12:34 into the frame and nearly got another goal off a swift redirection by Crosby in the final two minutes of a period in which they were out-shot 13-6.

“We usually come out fast at home, and, tonight, it was an awkward game, you could feel it,” Cronin said. “There wasn’t a lot of rhythm to the game, there wasn’t a lot of scoring chances either.

“We had like 12 shots but maybe three or four of them were quality, they had like six and maybe four were quality. It was just kind of a strange game, it was like two boxers just jabbing each other.”

They beat the Penguins, 4-3, in Pittsburgh on Oct. 30 off a Mason McTavish short-handed goal during the dying gasps of the match as part of McTavish’s three-point outing, which also included the tying tally. That performance was the highlight of a five-point week that led to his being named the NHL’s third star.

It was also a game that saw the Ducks defend two five-on-three situations, one that ended up getting Coach Greg Cronin tossed from the game and another that led to McTavish’s improbable game-winner. McTavish scored another tide-turner in a frenzied comeback against defending champion Vegas on Sunday, whom the Ducks beat, 4-2. Between those big goals, he did everything but score when he created an odd-man rush, secured a zone entry and ultimately whipped a perfectly weighted pass to Troy Terry for an overtime tally against Arizona.

McTavish’s teammate Alex Killorn said the 20-year-old center had the “clutch gene,” and Killorn would know about big-game DNA: he’s played in four Stanley Cup Final series, and he won it twice in addition to winning the Calder Cup in the minors.

Killorn made his first appearance in a Ducks sweater Sunday, logging over 17 minutes across all situations. Although he is a recent arrival to the organization, he understood just how impactful the Ducks’ streak and their start overall had been. After finishing with the lowest point total and worst defensive numbers in hockey last year, the Ducks started out the year looking much more competitive. Then, they started getting results to the tune of the longest active streak in the NHL (six games), including five final-frame rallies and victories over top teams like Vegas and the Boston Bruins, who set an all-time record for victories in a single season last year.

“It’s been tough just talking to these guys and how it’s been for the past couple of years, so to get off to a start like this, especially going down 1-4 to start the season, but the team was playing well,” Killorn said. “Where are we at? 7-4 now? That’s pretty impressive with the strength of schedule we’ve had and the way that we’ve won games.”

Killorn, who essentially played for one coach (Jon Cooper) his entire career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, said first-year coach Greg Cronin had seized an opportunity to mold a group of young players seeking direction and veterans looking to wash the bitter taste of defeat from their mouths.

“He’s done a great job, kind of starting to change that culture here,” Killorn said. “We practice really hard. At times, you can get tired of it, but you know when you’re winning and things are going the right way, it’s all worth it. He wants to play at a certain level and to do that we have to practice at a certain level. It’s been showing results, so it’s been great so far.”

Cronin was also complimentary of Killorn and his linemates, a 30-something trio that also included veterans Jakob Silfverberg and Adam Henrique, who scored a power-play goal Sunday. Cronin said that that third line provided a “template” for how the Ducks wanted to play after his other forwards meandered at times during the first period. Cronin said Killorn was “terrific” and that he provided the stabilizing presence from a seasoned winger who had risen to a leadership role with one of the East’s top franchises.

“There’s no panic to him. Just having him there was just really nice on the bench,” Cronin said. “In those critical moments in games, whether it’s at the end of a period or they’re coming down the walls, he just makes smart plays, he just knows. He plays playoff hockey every game.”

The Penguins have played plenty of games in the spring themselves, with three-time Stanley Cup champions and four-time finalists Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang comprising their core. Yet the Penguins will need to march more briskly if they want to reach the postseason in their first year under former Toronto GM Kyle Dubas. They are currently bringing up the rear of a competitive Metropolitan Division.

They’re in last place despite a 10-goal onslaught against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Jake Guentzel and Reilly Smith, in his first year with the club, each poured in two goals and two assists. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, acquired from San Jose this past offseason, had his second straight multipoint effort and a plus-5 rating against his former franchise. But it might not be such an achievement to have put up double digits against San Jose: The Vancouver Canucks matched the feat in their 10-1 ravaging of San Jose in its previous game.

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  Frank Vatrano of the Anaheim Ducks strips William Karlsson of the Vegas Golden Knights of the puck during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Kaedan Korczak congratulates Ivan Barbashev of the Vegas Golden Knights after his goal during the first period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks collide as Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights skates past during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Michael Amadio of the Vegas Golden Knights controls the puck past the defense of Cam Fowler of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Chandler Stephenson of the Vegas Golden Knights pressures John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Ilya Lyubushkin of the Anaheim Ducks defends against Michael Amadio of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Alex Pietrangelo of the Vegas Golden Knights shoots the puck as Jakob Silfverberg of the Anaheim Ducks defends during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks defends against Michael Amadio of the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Ryan Strome of the Anaheim Ducks shares a laugh with Logan Thompson of the Vegas Golden Knights during a timeout in the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Troy Terry of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Troy Terry of the Anaheim Ducks shoots the puck past the defense of Chandler Stephenson of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Troy Terry, Leo Carlsson, and Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks talk during a timeout in the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Brayden Pachal of the Vegas Golden Knights checks Brett Leason of the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Brett Leason of the Anaheim Ducks pushes William Carrier of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks pushes William Carrier of the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks battles Brayden McNabb of the Vegas Golden Knights for a loose puck during the second period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

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  Keegan Kolesar of the Vegas Golden Knights controls the puck past the defense of Ross Johnston of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a game at Honda Center on November 05, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

ANAHEIM –– The Ducks astonished again by completing their fifth third-period rally of a season that was only 11 games old, and this time they toppled the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-2, at Honda Center Sunday.

After winning a match they trailed 2-0 at the second intermission, they have now upended both the Cup champs and the Presidents’ Trophy winners from last season (the Boston Bruins), and in wagon-circling, heart-stopping fashion no less.

Mason McTavish capped the comeback with his clinching goal. Sam Carrick scored the equalizer and added an empty-netter. Adam Henrique also tallied while leading goal-scorer Frank Vatrano contributed two assists, as did Cam Fowler. John Gibson turned in a superb effort, making 30 of 32 saves. The Ducks have now won six straight games, the longest active streak in the NHL and the franchise’s most enduring surge since an eight-game tear in November of 2021.

Jack Eichel led Vegas with a goal and an assist on Ivan Barbashev’s marker. Logan Thompson had 19 saves in Vegas’s first regulation loss this year.

“It’s pretty special. I’ve been watching most of the games from the pressbox,” said two-time Cup winner Alex Killorn, who made his Ducks debut Sunday after recovering from a broken finger. “I don’t know how it was in the past, but going down two-nothing to the Stanley Cup champions, the best team in the league in my opinion, the Vegas Golden Knights, to show resilience and to come back [was impressive], and we’ve done it a bunch of times against a bunch of different teams.”

Just 3:40 showed on the clock when McTavish, who had dominated the netfront all shift, received a pass on the doorstep that he forced past Thompson to give the Ducks their first lead of the evening. Carrick tacked on an empty-net marker with 1:09 to play.

McTavish has factored into five of the Ducks’ seven game-winning goals, scoring three and assisting on two. His high-stakes swagger predates the NHL: he made a game-preserving defensive play in overtime that allowed Canada to edge Finland for gold at the World Junior Championships.

“He’s got that clutch gene. Whenever he gets the puck in a big-time moment, it seems like he scores or makes a big play,” Killorn said.

The Ducks had come up with a massive penalty kill in the middle of the period, during which they had to confront Vegas’s top unit for the entire two minutes. They rode that momentum into an equalizer with 9:05 to play. Pavel Mintyukov stole the puck back from Eichel as Vegas tried to break out of their zone, and his pass found Carrick behind the defense. Carrick deked his way into the second of his three goals this season.

“Great play by him to get it over to me, and I was just all alone. It’s hard to believe at 19 years old, how comfortable he is out there,” Carrick said.

“He’s going to be a stud for a lot of years in this league,” added Carrick about Mintyukov. “It’s amazing how confident he’s come in here and how well he’s played.”

A penalty called at the end of the second period carried over into the third and the Ducks cashed in a few seconds before it expired. A puck hit Henrique in the slot, where he turned and swiftly swept the puck home in one motion for his second goal of 2023-24. The Ducks have now scored at least one power-play goal in four straight games across which they’ve converted half a dozen times with the extra man. They’ve also gone eight-of-eight on the penalty kill in their last two games.

The middle frame was decidedly stronger for the Ducks but it produced the same result, 20 minutes passing and their hole deepening by a goal. They had Ryan Strome’s menacing one-timer, a three-on-one that sputtered after a save by Thompson on Trevor Zegras and, overall, a more forward-facing period.

Yet it was Eichel getting his first goal and second point of the night when he glided gracefully toward the right faceoff dot, where he seared a shot past Gibson that entered the net between the post and crossbar, exiting instantaneously with 6:17 remaining. In the final minute of the period, Gibson had to extend and contort his body in unnatural ways to keep the game tied as sloppy puck management and a tenacious forecheck combined to create chaos.

The Ducks were out-shot 10-6 in the first period but seemed to be absorbing and reacting rather than dictating for much of the stanza, which left them with a one-goal deficit.

Vegas got on the board first 8:51 into the contest. Ilya Lyubushkin was all by himself against three Vegas attackers. Eichel faked a pass to Jonathan Marchessault in the middle before finding Barbashev on the left side for a redirection goal from point-blank range. The Ducks regained some of their footing late in the period, especially when Carrick drilled Keegan Kolesar with an open-ice hit, and settled in for the final 40 minutes.

“We wanted to play a dump-and-chase game, but we kept turning it over in the first period, and the resiliency came in from the coachability of the group, because we stopped doing that, fortunately, in the second and third periods,” Coach Greg Cronin said. “We did a great job on the penalty kill; it was a great team effort.”

Alex Killorn, the two-time Stanley Cup winner they signed over the summer, reached the cusp of making his Ducks debut, which had been delayed by a broken finger. He said he thought it responded well to his initial action without a non-contact jersey and continued practicing this week, making him a game-time decision to slot into a left-wing spot Sunday, possibly on the third line.

Also back on the ice Saturday was winger Brock McGinn, whose lower-body injury has prevented him from playing this season. He seemed like a longshot for Sunday, but his return inched the Ducks ever closer to full health.

Greg Cronin, the Ducks’ effusive first-year coach who’s helped spark their about-face, was fined $25,000 for “unprofessional conduct directed toward the officials” by the NHL, the maximum allowable sum. He had expressed consternation at a disallowed goal decision that was upheld after a coach’s challenge in Pittsburgh on Monday.

There was also roster news ahead of the match. It appears winger Ryan Strome has recovered from his brief illness and that goalie John Gibson may be none the worse for wear after sustaining an upper-body injury in Pittsburgh. Neither player participated in Wednesday’s win over the Arizona Coyotes. Depth goalie Alex Stalock was sent back to the minors, where he’ll be joined by defenseman Tristan Luneau. Luneau, 19, can enjoy a conditioning stint in San Diego but cannot technically be assigned to the American Hockey League on a full-time basis as a North American prospect that still has a year of junior eligibility. In his stead, veteran defenseman Robert Hagg was recalled.

Oh, and the defending Stanley Cup champs are coming to town when the Ducks and Vegas Golden Knights clash Sunday at Honda Center.

That showdown will pit the team with the West’s longest active win streak, the Ducks at five games, against the team with its longest string of victories this season, the Golden Knights, who won their first seven contests.

For all the Ducks’ recent success, Cronin said he felt his team was more imposing, more effortful and all-around “sharper” in some of the early-season losses than it had been during much of its ongoing ascent.

“These last few games, we haven’t had that same pace, so, a young team needs practice reps,” said Cronin, before summarily taking advantage of a soft stretch of the schedule to give them just that.

Indeed the Ducks have made strides and implemented changes at a pace even more dizzying than this week’s team news cycle, with Cronin’s staff and a motivated group of players eager to catapult itself from the very bottom of the NHL last season to a more competitive position.

Last season, the Ducks were a sieve defensively, yet this year they sit just outside the top 10 league-wide in goals-against average while ranking in the middle of the penalty-kill pack. Early in this campaign, they had squandered territorial advantages and struggled on the power play. Of late, they’ve been more aggressive in front of the opposing net and more efficient on the power play, converting on five opportunities in their past three games after cashing in just once in seven prior matches.

“We give them the feedback and we create the structure as coaches, and then they’re responsible for putting the work and the intensity behind it,” Cronin said.

There may have been a bit of kismet at play when Cronin was united with kindred soul Frank Vatrano, who sat in a three-way tie for the NHL lead in goals entering Saturday’s slate of games. His nine tallies in 10 appearances put him on pace to blow past his career high of 24 goals way before midseason on the back of two hat tricks. In the Ducks’ most recent outing, an overtime victory against the Arizona Coyotes, it was Troy Terry, last year’s top goal-scorer for the Ducks who had gotten off to a slow start this season, making the fedoras fly from the stands.

“That whole line – Frankie, Strome and Mac T – are three of the top 30 scorers and I asked Troy [before the game], ‘Why aren’t you in that group?’” said Cronin, adding that he has been tweaking Terry’s style slightly to play a more direct game.

There is little in the way of indirectness when it comes to Vegas, as they play a heavy, straight-ahead style. The Golden Knights beat the Ducks 4-1 in the Ducks’ season opener, a game Cronin has singled out as the team’s least satisfying loss. How edifying it was remained to be seen Saturday, when Vegas was visiting the Colorado Avalanche in the front part of a back-to-back set.

The Golden Knights had their own hat-trick hero, Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault, in a win over Winnipeg on Thursday. Shea Theodore, their top-scoring defenseman, scored the shootout winner against Montreal a game earlier. Former Ducks center William Karlsson leads Vegas in scoring with 13 points.

VEGAS AT DUCKS

When: Sunday, 5 p.m.

Where: Honda Center

How to watch: Bally Sports SoCal

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  Ducks right wing Troy Terry, right, shoots past Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott for a goal during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks right wing Troy Terry, second from left, celebrates his power-play goal with left wing Max Jones, center Leo Carlsson, and center Trevor Zegras, from left, during the first period of their game against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes defenseman Sean Durzi controls the puck during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe shoots the puck during the first period of their game against the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse is congratulated after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes center Alexander Kerfoot, left, defends against Ducks center Trevor Zegras during the first period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley, left, is congratulated by defenseman Juuso Valimaki after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, left, controls the puck as Arizona Coyotes center Jack McBain chases during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes defenseman Sean Durzi shoots the puck during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes left wing Matias Maccelli, right, chases the puck as Ducks defenseman Urho Vaakanainen follows during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes center Logan Cooley, left, and Ducks right wing Brett Leason vie for the puck during the second period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes left wing Michael Carcone falls while chasing the puck during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse, left, celebrates with left wing Matias Maccelli after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes center Jack McBain, left, shoves Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller, left, controls the puck as Ducks center Benoit-Olivier Groulx chases him during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano, rear, and Arizona Coyotes defenseman Sean Durzi scuffle during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks right wing Frank Vatrano reacts while being escorted off the ice by linesman Julien Fournier after an altercation with Arizona Coyotes defenseman Sean Durzi during the third period on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks right wing Troy Terry, right, reaches for the puck against Arizona Coyotes right wing Clayton Keller during overtime on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

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  Ducks right wing Troy Terry begins to celebrate after scoring his third goal of the night to give his team a 4-3 overtime victory over the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

ANAHEIM — The Ducks’ five-game win streak has offered a novel delight with each victory, and Wednesday night’s contest was no exception as it was decided by an overtime winner that completed Troy Terry’s second career hat trick.

The Ducks became so fond of rallies on the road that they snagged a souvenir comeback for the fans at Honda Center, where they led by two, trailed by one and ultimately prevailed, 4-3, over the Arizona Coyotes in OT.

The Ducks became the fifth team in NHL history to mount four third-period surges to come from behind in their first 10 games of a season.

This was also the first game of November after an October in which nearly 48% of victories league-wide were comebacks, tied for the highest percentage in NHL history, and there were 95 lead changes, the third-most in any October.

Terry added a career-high fourth point to the game’s first two goals and the overtime winner, setting up rookie Leo Carlsson. October’s NHL Rookie of the Month, Lukáš Dostál, had 32 saves. Dostál will likely see even more action in the coming days as John Gibson (upper-body injury) missed Wednesday’s game and the Ducks recalled veteran depth goalie Alex Stalock. Winger Ryan Strome (illness) was also a late scratch, opening an opportunity for Benoit-Olivier Groulx.

For Arizona, Lawson Crouse tallied twice and rookie Logan Cooley scored his first NHL goal. J.J. Moser contributed two assists. Karel Vejmelka had 25 saves.

Overtime began auspiciously for the Ducks, who nearly saw Terry win the game and wrap up his hat trick off a partial breakaway during the first shift of OT. He finished both jobs three minutes later after an Hakeem Olajuwon-esque shimmy by Mason McTavish created an odd-man rush for the Ducks.

McTavish, who scored two skate-off goals on their four-game road trip, played the role of engineer this time. Terry, who called McTavish a “main driver” offensively, lauded the shimmy, the shake, the entry and the oh-so-sweet dish to send the fans home happy.

“The whole goal was impressive on his behalf and I’m just happy I was able to put it home,” Terry said.

Terry, who was the Ducks’ leading goal-scorer last season, had a modest two goals entering Wednesday’s action.

“Not to sound like a bad teammate, I couldn’t be happier that we’ve been winning games, but selfishly I’ve wanted to contribute more,” Terry said.

The Ducks made it a new game 4:01 into the third period off a shot that first deflected off former Kings defenseman Sean Durzi and then off Carlsson’s stick skyward and into the net. It was the third goal for the NHL’s version of a true freshman, Carlsson, and an equalizer that took the game to overtime.

“It was up-and-down hockey, I’m sure it was a lot of fun for the fans,” Dostál said.

Durzi would later receive a game misconduct after he took exception to a check into the end boards by Frank Vatrano and came up swinging.

Arizona assumed control for the first time Wednesday with the lone goal of the second period. With 5:35 left, sustained pressure created the second goal of the night for Crouse, who got away with a cross-check that knocked down Radko Gudas just before Crouse received the puck and scored on a point-blank backhand as he dove to the ice.

In the opening 20 minutes, the Ducks scored on two of their first three shots but were stuck on the same total when Arizona’s ninth shot and second goal evened the count.

Rookie defenseman Pavel Mintyukov initiated both scoring sequences for the Ducks and Terry finished them.

Mintyukov’s nifty banked-off-the-boards zone entry against pressure from multiple defenders led to what was ultimately scored an unassisted power-play goal for Terry 3:46 into the game.

Mintyukov put on a show about six minutes later, gaining the zone, finding an open Cam Fowler and hitting the post with his attempt to finish a deft give-and-go play. Terry buried the rebound to earn Mintyukov a primary assist. The series of events happened four-on-four save for the goal itself, which bolstered their conversion rate – and Mintyukov’s reputation.

“There were moments I watched him as a coach and I turned into a spectator, and said ‘this kid’s good, he’s just a good hockey player,’” said the Ducks’ Greg Cronin, who was proud his team avoided a “trap game.”

But Arizona responded with a pair of goals set up by Moser. His touch pass into the low slot gave Dostál little opportunity to stop Crouse’s redirection 11:41 into the game.

About three minutes later, Moser’s lead pass for Cooley allowed the Calder Trophy contender to hit the blue line with speed before he zoomed on goal dragging the puck on his backhand before seamlessly transitioning to his forehand for his first career tally.

The Ducks next face the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights in a rematch from the Ducks’ season opener, which Vegas won, 4-1.

@troyterry1997@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/lAamJiSsUO

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 2, 2023

OVERTIME. HAT-TRICK. GAME WINNER. @troyterry1997 @AlysonLozoff@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/j77ktWIqYR

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 2, 2023

GOOOAAALLLL @troyterry1997@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/M61ni6EDLa

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 2, 2023

TERRY GOAL x2 @troyterry1997@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/BbBvzZ1z8l

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 2, 2023

Carlsson ties the game!@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/nGrmWT9Tcu

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 2, 2023

"It made my day!" -NHL Rookie of the Month @AlysonLozoff@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/eKWxXPOFiI

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 2, 2023

But after their most successful road swing in a decade, a 4-0-0 excursion, the Ducks returned home above .500 for the first time since they won their home opener last season and also saw Frank Vatrano become the NHL’s leading goal-scorer.

Vatrano, habitual overtime hero Mason McTavish and the rest of the Ducks will host the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday night at Honda Center. The Coyotes shouldn’t be expecting elegant linens and fine China, as the Ducks are feeling the snarl and riding the emotion of four straight victories, three of which were come-from-behind wins, the most of any team in the league so far this season.

“We have a young core, so it’s a great experience and there’s a lot of things to build on,” said goalie Lukáš Dostál, who earned three victories on the trip including one in relief Monday when Pittsburgh native John Gibson exited the game with an injury after an acrobatic save on Sidney Crosby to close the first period (the Ducks were off Tuesday and no status update was available).

The Ducks faced not one but two two-man disadvantages, the first of which culminated in a power-play goal for Evgeni Malkin. Dostàl later returned the favor, stoning Malkin during a second five-on-three situation with 1:18 to play. That preserved a tie for the moment when McTavish, who had already tied the score with an assertive third-period tally and scored an overtime winner in Boston on Thursday, burst out of the penalty box to receive a chip pass from Adam Henrique to send him on a breakaway and the Ducks back to Orange County elated.

“That was definitely another crazy one, kind of similar to that Boston one,” McTavish said. “Obviously kind of a nail-biter, we killed two five-on-threes, that was huge.”

First-year Ducks coach Greg Cronin had to watch all the late-game excitement unfold from the coaches’ office. He had been assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for arguing vociferously with officials after an unsuccessful challenge (which led to a separate bench minor) of their determination that a goal by the Ducks’ Ross Johnston should be waived off for goaltender interference. Even the Pittsburgh broadcasters expressed unequivocal skepticism at the call. But Cronin’s club handled the third period with poise and moxie and also demonstrated a bit of disbelief when the animated Cronin informed them he’d never been thrown out of a game before.

After the game, Cronin subtly detailed the adversity his team faced, not only with penalty trouble and deficits but an abrupt switch in net, his departure from the bench and the fatigue that teams can carry into the final match of a prolonged road swing, one in which the Ducks were out-attempted and out-shot handily.

“You have those nights, especially on road trips, where you don’t have energy and you don’t have the drive you usually have,” Cronin said. “A lot of that credit goes to Pittsburgh because they did have it, but when your goalies play as well as our two goalies did, it’s a blessing to win.”

The Ducks next tangle with the Coyotes, who beat them 2-1 in a tight-checking affair in the desert on Oct. 21. Both teams have since shown some legitimate explosiveness: the Ducks mounted seven goals on the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday and the Coyotes poured in eight straight to wallop the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

Arizona winger Michael Carcone’s first career multi-goal game was a hat trick, making him one of six Coyotes to turn in two or more points Monday. Not among them were top scorers Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz, though former Kings defenseman Sean Durzi was with a goal and an assist that brought his total to seven points in eight games.

ARIZONA AT DUCKS

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Honda Center

TV/radio: Bally Sports West

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  Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, center, works for position in front of Ducks goaltender John Gibson, right, with Ilya Lyubushkin defending during the first period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg, left, eyes a rebound off of Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) before putting it in the net for a goal with Chad Ruhwedel (2) defending during the first period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg (33) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg, left, celebrates with Max Jones after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Jakob Silfverberg celebrates with teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel tries to get past the Ducks’ Frank Vatrano during the first period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Erik Karlsson, right, celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins players celebrate after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel (59) and the Ducks’ Cam Fowler (4) vie for the puck during the first period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel (59) watches as a slapshot by teammate Evgeni Malkin, not pictured, gets past Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal for a goal during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin, right, celebrates with teammate Rickard Rakell after scoring a power-play goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin, left, celebrates with teammates Rickard Rakell, center, and Erik Karlsson, right, after scoring a power-play goal during the second period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Erik Karlsson, left, celebrates with Kris Letang and Magnus Hellberg, center, after scoring a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, right, and the Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe vie for the puck during the first period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Radko Gudas, right, checks the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell off the puck during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano shoots (and scores) during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano (77) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Frank Vatrano, center, returns to the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Lars Eller, left, controls the puck in front of the Ducks’ Leo Carlsson (91) during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Leo Carlsson, right, skates with the puck as the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kris Letang defends during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Lars Eller, right, cannot get his stick on the puck with the Ducks’ Cam Fowler (4) defending during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov (34) is tripped during the second period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, left, stops a shot by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Drew O’Connor during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Troy Terry, right, defends against the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Rickard Rakell during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Jackson LaCombe, right, attempts to check the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin off the puck while behind the net during the second period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, right, reaches between the legs of the Ducks’ Mason McTavish (23) for the puck in front of goalie Lukas Dostal during the third period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry, left, makes a save during the third period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Radko Gudas celebrates with teammates after a goal was scored during the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Ross Johnston, left, checks the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ryan Graves during the third period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Ilya Lyubushkin, left, skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin during the third period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby waits for the puck to drop during a faceoff in the third period of their game against the Ducks on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, left, makes a save against Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby during the third period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Ross Johnston (44) and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Drew O’Connor, right, shove each other as Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, left, defends his net during the third period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  A shot by the Ducks’ Mason McTavish, not pictured, gets past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry for a goal late in the third period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish celebrates after scoring the go-ahead goal with less than 12 seconds left in the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, center, celebrates after scoring a go-ahead goal in the final 12 seconds of the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, top, skates past the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby as he celebrates after scoring a go-ahead goal during the final seconds of the third period on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a go-ahead goal in the final 12 seconds of the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a short-handed goal to give his team the lead with 11.9 seconds left in the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Ducks held on to win, 4-3, capping a perfect 4-0 road trip that included three thrilling wins. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish celebrates with teammates after scoring a go-ahead goal in the final 12 seconds of the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish (23) returns to the bench after scoring the go-ahead goal in the final 12 seconds of the third period of their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  The Ducks’ Ryan Strome, right, celebrates after their 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Ryan Strome, left, and Radko Gudas celebrate after their 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, left, and Frank Vatrano (77) celebrate after their 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, center, and Mason McTavish, right, celebrate after their 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Pittsburgh Penguins and Ducks gather at center ice before their game on Monday night in Pittsburgh to honor former Penguins player Adam Johnson, shown on scoreboard, who died while playing in an English hockey league game. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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  Ducks players join Pittsburgh Penguins players at center ice to stand for a moment of silence following the death of former Penguins player Adam Johnson, prior to their game on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Radko Gudas looks on during warm-ups prior to their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Mason McTavish warms up prior to their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

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  The Ducks’ Sam Carrick warms up prior to their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Harrison Barden/Getty Images)

By DAN SCIFO The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Mason McTavish and the Ducks would be hard-pressed to have imagined a better or more memorable road trip.

McTavish scored a short-handed goal with 11.9 seconds to play and the Ducks beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-3, on Monday night, capping a perfect 4-0 trip that included three thrilling victories.

McTavish was sitting in the penalty box not long before his game-winner, hoping that his teammates could kill a 5-on-3 against the Penguins’ power play in the final two minutes of a tie game.

When the Ducks successfully killed his penalty, McTavish made sure to take care of the rest.

“I was just praying to God that we’d get the kills,” McTavish said. “Huge kills at the end.”

Huge kills that allowed McTavish to provide one final dose of drama to a week filled with wild finishes.

Pittsburgh was on a two-man advantage for 1:49 at the end of the third period because of a tripping call on McTavish and a separate delay of game penalty. Adam Henrique intercepted a Penguins’ pass and pushed it to McTavish, who beat Tristan Jarry on a breakaway.

“I saw (Jarry) was kind of deep,” McTavish said. “Kind of faked five-hole, got him to drop his hands a bit and then just kind of went upstairs.”

It was McTavish’s second goal of the game and fifth of the season. McTavish had the overtime winner to cap a stunning comeback win in Boston last week, and he and Ryan Strome are both on five-game point streaks.

Frank Vatrano scored his ninth goal and Jakob Silfverberg scored in his 700th game with the Ducks.

John Gibson stopped six shots but left after the first period with an upper-body injury. Lukas Dostal made 33 saves in relief for the Ducks, who swept a four-game trip for the fifth time in franchise history, and swept a trip of at least four games for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

Erik Karlsson scored his second of the season and first goal at home for Pittsburgh. Evgeni Malkin also scored with the man advantage, as Pittsburgh snapped its 0-for-16 power-play slump, which spanned six games and dated back to Oct. 13.

Radim Zohorna also scored for the Penguins, who have lost two straight and five of six overall.

Sidney Crosby recorded an assist and moved into 15th place on the NHL’s all-time assists list, passing Hall of Famer and former teammate Mark Recchi.

Jarry made 23 saves for the Penguins.

“I have to get out and make a save,” Jarry said. “That’s the bottom line. I think that’s the biggest thing, just to force it into overtime and get a point.”

Silfverberg, who scored the Ducks’ first goal, is one goal from tying Steve Rucchin for sixth in team history. Silfverberg is also one point from tying former Duck – and current Penguin – Rickard Rakell for seventh on the Ducks’ career list.

Malkin tied the score at 2-all 19:25 into the second period with the Penguins’ second power-play goal, a slap shot from the top of the right circle.

Pittsburgh was awarded the power play after the Ducks’ Ross Johnston appeared to score, but the goal was waved off because of goaltender interference. The Ducks unsuccessfully challenged and Pittsburgh was given a two-man advantage when first-year Ducks coach Greg Cronin was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

“I came in and I apologized,” Cronin said. “I said, ‘Hey, quite frankly, I could’ve cost us two points.’

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

Before the game, the Ducks joined Penguins’ players at center ice for a tribute to Adam Johnson, who died Saturday after his neck was cut by a skate blade during a game in England. He was 29.

Johnson joined the Penguins organization in 2017 and he skated in 13 NHL games with Pittsburgh in 2019 and 2020.

A black and white photo of Johnson was displayed on the scoreboard and a white spotlight on center ice. The video tribute included Johnson’s debut in Nashville and his first NHL goal in Minnesota. Instead of a moment of silence, the Penguins asked to give one final cheer for Johnson. Fans applauded and players tapped their sticks around the center circle.

The Penguins added “AJ 47” decals to their helmets and started the third line on Monday.

UP NEXT

The Ducks begin a five-game homestand on Wednesday against Arizona.

WOW. @AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/sVkCJkSLRP

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 31, 2023

"One of the most amazing wins I have seen this team ever get. Absolutely incredible win." #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/fiZfCFM3V3

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 31, 2023

The bench was HYPED for the Mac-T game winner!!! #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/cdIQKPtLjc

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 31, 2023

VATRANOOOO GOOOOAAALLL@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/gfBAPi3yCf

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 31, 2023

MAC-T SCORESSSS@AnaheimDucks l #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/392Gi4KYtb

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) October 31, 2023

Their matchup Monday with the Penguins will conclude a road trip that has seen the Ducks mount a pair of comeback victories before slathering seven goals on the Philadelphia Flyers in a 7-4 win Saturday to level up to 3-0-0 on this four-match journey. They’ve moved to a .500 points percentage on the year. That mark could have been even stronger if not for some agonizing losses, and it already represented progress from their league-worst .354 clip last season.

While Pittsburgh will bring to the ice its accomplished nucleus of three-time Stanley Cup winners Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, as well as a new 30-something superstar in three-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, it’s the Ducks’ Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome that will lug the gaudiest numbers in tow Monday. Strome has 10 points to lead all scorers that will be involved in the match and the same is true of Vatrano’s eight goals and plus-seven rating, as both wingers have expertly flanked the strong, steady Mason McTavish.

“Great road trip. Guys are playing great. Obviously Mr. Vatrano is filling the net with a bunch of pucks, which is awesome. It’s a good feeling to be a part of this team this year,” forward Trevor Zegras told Bally Sports Saturday (the Ducks were off Sunday).

Coach Greg Cronin said Saturday that Vatrano, with whom he quickly fostered personal chemistry, had dedicated himself to rounding out a game that has always featured velocity, skill and temerity.

“He’s got elite speed, and then the next thing to say is his shot. The reliability part on the defensive side of it, that was one of the question marks, but we’ve had him really invested in the defensive side of the puck,” Cronin said.

Cronin was also complimentary of Zegras, who scored one of the Ducks’ two power-play goals Saturday, which tripled their sum for the season.

“Despite the fact that Z’s not matching Frankie’s point totals, he’s playing the same way,” said Cronin, who characterized those two forwards and winger Troy Terry as “offensive catalysts.”

Zegras and his mates have all intensified their competitiveness in the early going, winning individual battles frequently and playing a much more structured and considerably more confrontational brand of hockey.

They’ve done so without their biggest free-agent acquisition, two-time Cup champ Alex Killorn, who should return in November, and Jamie Drysdale, who remained on injured reserve with a lower-body injury Sunday. They also got the stone rolling on this road trip without Zegras, their leading scorer last season, as he was benched in Columbus late in the first game of the trip, which the Ducks rallied to win Tuesday.

“It was definitely a challenge. Nobody likes getting parked on the bench for a period, and then, obviously, overtime in that game,” Zegras told Bally Sports.

“I’d say the message was received,” Zegras continued. “I totally get where (Cronin) is coming from and if that’s going to be the standard, then I’ve got to play better and make better decisions, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Indeed Cronin’s points of emphasis have proven penetrative, with an extended and intensive training camp focusing on structure, compete level and developing sound, repeatable habits. Despite the Ducks’ success in those areas, that left a bit less time for the fineries of offense and the power play, which led to some tentativeness in the former area and struggles in the latter. Having put up a touchdown on Philly, it seems that a motivated instructor and his captive audience have combined to make swift strides.

Crosby, Malkin and winger Jake Guentzel are cozied up atop the team leaderboard with nine points apiece. Tristan Jarry was ultimately re-signed over the summer and has been their first option in goal, though he, like the last-place Penguins, has seen his record (2-4-0) wobble out of the starting blocks.

The Ducks tied a franchise record for goals in a road game. Lukas Dostal had 27 saves for the Ducks (4-4-0), who are 3-0 on their four-game trip east, with overtime wins in Columbus and Boston before the dominating effort in Philadelphia.

“Winning on the road with a young team is very tough,” Vatrano said. “You want to pay attention to deals and whether it is on home ice or in away rinks. We’ve fallen behind in a few games, but we’re playing good hockey.”

Travis Konecny scored twice to increase his season total to eight while Cam Atkinson and Joel Farabee each added a goal for Philadelphia (4-3-1). Backup Flyers goaltender Samuel Ersson took the loss with 18 saves on 25 shots, many of which were off turnovers that gave the puck to Anaheim in prime scoring slots — which Flyers coach John Tortorella noted when reacting to sarcastic cheers from the Wells Fargo Center crowd in his postgame press conference.

“Don’t blame Sam for this,” Tortorella said. “He’s part of it. But it was easy to look at the goaltender and throw it all on him. Not a chance. That was a team effort tonight.”

Vatrano has eight goals in Anaheim’s first eight games of the season. Saturday was his second hat trick of the season, matching his three-goal effort against Carolina on Oct. 15.

“Goal scoring is a funny thing,” Vatrano said. “Sometimes, they go in and sometimes, they don’t. You are going to have ups and downs with goal scoring. So far, they are going early and we’ll just roll with that.”

His first goal, a sharp wrist shot between the circles, beat Ersson just under the top shelf to make it 2-0 in the first period. Vatrano scored seven minutes into the second when an extended video replay determined a poked shot from the side of the net broke the goal line between Ersson’s pad and glove.

“I wasn’t sure if I got it in on the first poke,” Vatrano said. His final tally was a shorthanded breakaway that went high to Ersson’s stick side, joining Corey Perry and Paul Kariya as the only players in franchise history with an even-strength, power-play and shorthanded goal in a game.

Strome added two assists after his goal, which started Anaheim’s scoring just 58 seconds into the game. The pairing of Strome, Vatrano and 20-year-old Mason McTavish, which was a combined plus-4 and created the most traffic in front of the Philadelphia net, has combined for 13 goals and 27 points in eight games.

“We’re using each others skill sets,” Strome said. “Frankie is a shooter and a scorer. Mac T (McTavish) is a great up and coming player — he’s going to be one of the better young players in the league. We communicate well off the ice and we work with each other and give good feedback.”

Konecny recorded his third multigoal game of the season for the Flyers. He was also responsible on the turnover that resulted in Zegras’ power-play goal with a turnover to extend Anaheim’s lead to 5-2 early in the third period.

“We were looking to get back in it, but I had to just kill the penalty there,” Konecny said. “If we hold it there, we have a chance.”

The Ducks look to finish a perfect four-game road trip Monday in Pittsburgh.