Ducks Triumph Over Penguins 4-3 in Thrilling Home Opener

In a heart-stopping clash at the Honda Center, the Anaheim Ducks edged out the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, thanks to a late-game heroics by Chris Kreider. Kreider, making his home debut in Anaheim after a headline-making offseason trade from the New York Rangers, notched his second power-play goal of the night with just 1:27 remaining, securing a dramatic victory and igniting the largest crowd in Ducks history. The game opened with a torrent of emotion as Justin Brazeau wasted no time, scoring for Pittsburgh just over a minute after the puck dropped—his fourth goal in as many games, showcasing an early-season surge that’s turning heads around the league. The Penguins, powered by their veteran core, surged to a 2-0 lead before the Ducks clawed back. Kreider opened the scoring for Anaheim off a slick Leo Carlsson feed, energizing a home crowd eager for a new era under coach Joel Quenneville. Rickard Rakell, facing his former team for the first time in Anaheim since being traded in 2022, answered with a goal for the Penguins, while Cutter Gauthier tied it for the Ducks with a blistering one-timer late in the first period. The second period saw Drew Helleson give Anaheim a 3-2 edge, only for Anthony Mantha—returning from a devastating knee injury that cut short his previous campaign—to tie the game for Pittsburgh after a beautiful setup by Sidney Crosby. With that assist, Crosby passed his childhood idol Steve Yzerman for the ninth-most assists in NHL history, a milestone celebrated by fans and peers alike. But the narrative belonged to Kreider and special teams. After Parker Wotherspoon was penalized for delay of game late in regulation, Kreider seized the moment, burying the game-winner just seven seconds into the power play. “Special teams are going to be big and they were the difference tonight,” Crosby reflected postgame—a sentiment echoed by Penguins forward Bryan Rust, who noted the Ducks’ seven minutes on the man-advantage compared to Pittsburgh’s lone power play as a decisive factor. The Ducks’ tenth consecutive home opener victory ties them for the second-longest such streak in NHL history, a testament to both the raucous Anaheim faithful and the club’s ability to deliver under pressure. The night also marked a new beginning for Quenneville, who received a thunderous ovation as he was introduced behind the bench. The Penguins, meanwhile, look ahead to the next stop on their California road trip, searching for answers but buoyed by the strong play of newcomers like Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba, as well as the continued brilliance of Crosby and Malkin. Rookie Beckett Sennecke, the third overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, continued to impress for Anaheim, contributing another assist and pushing his early career totals to four points in three games. The evolving youth movement in both lineups added intrigue to an already electric night. For more on this dramatic showdown and the latest NHL action, dive into the full box score and highlights on ESPN. Relive Chris Kreider’s clutch performance and the raucous Ducks crowd with the official AP game recap.