Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
A dreadful six-game losing streak has put the Pittsburgh Penguins at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They have a chance to break this streak on home ice against another struggling team, the Anaheim Ducks.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have been one of the most entertaining teams at the start of the season. Each of their games generates plenty of scoring opportunities, averaging 7.2 goals per game. Their defensive lapses can be equally blamed on both the skaters and the goaltender. The hosts allow 3.31 xG per hour of play at even strength, and primary goaltender Tristan Jarry has been so off-form that he was demoted to the AHL.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are comparable to their opponents in terms of the dangerous chances they concede in their own zone. The absence of a solid defence in this young, developing team has become a hallmark over recent years, and this season is no different. They allow over 14.6 scoring chances in the "5-on-5" format per 60 minutes, ranking just above the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins. Some issues are masked by goalkeeper Lukas Dostal, but performances like his standout showing against the Islanders (3:1) on Wednesday night are not consistent.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Anaheim Ducks Prediction
Both teams make numerous defensive errors, yet each possesses enough talented forwards to capitalise on these mistakes. Expect a fun, high-scoring hockey game where Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Rickard Rakell on one side, and Erik Karlsson, Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Troy Terry on the other, will have plenty of opportunities to add to their goal tallies.
