Mason McTavish, Ducks cap perfect road trip with another dramatic win
McTavish scores a short-handed goal with 11.9 seconds left and the Ducks close their four-game trip with a 4-3 win. McTavish also scores earlier in the third period as the Ducks sweep a road trip of at least four games for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.”
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.
