Gibson, Ducks shut out Pens, 4-0

In Pittsburgh Saturday night, the Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson made 29 saves in a 4-0 shutout of the Penguins.

The Ducks found a complete game in the road win with Ondrej Kase and Rickard Rakell striking in the opening frame to give the club a 2-0 lead after the first.

The shutout was areversal of recent fortunes in Pittsburgh for Gibson.

“Obviously, it hasn’t gone the best here the past few years,” Gibson said. “So, it was nice. As long as we win, I’m happy. But I mean, yeah, it’s definitely extra special when your family and stuff is in town. So, it was fun.”

Andrew Cogliano and Cam Fowler scored in the middle frame to open up and give Gibson some breathing room..

“We’ve been kicked around a little bit in the last while,” Ducks coach Randy Carlyle said. “We’ve given up points and we’ve had two-goal leads in hockey games. That kind of wears on people after a while. … We’re starting to get our team back together. We’re playing more as a team.”

Anaheim improved to 16-13-8 with the win, their second straight.

“It’s a slow start,” the Pens’ Kris Letang said. “We didn’t get to the forecheck. We didn’t get to our speed. It was kind of a game [where] everybody was kind of waiting. I think we have to initiate.”

[WATCH: All Ducks vs. Penguins highlights]

Matt Murray got the start for the Pens but was pulled after the Ducks made it 3-0 in the middle frame; Murray stopped just 10 shots on goal in the loss.

“It’s huge to go up 3-0,” Cogliano said. “We talked about getting that next goal. We knew they were going to make a push and if they would’ve got the one to make it 2-1, the game could’ve changed, especially in this building. So, it was a big goal.

“I think all the goals tonight were important and all the goals came at the right time.”

Tristan Jarry made nine saves in  mop up of the game.

The loss was the Pens’ fifth in seven games and they dropped to 18-16-3 on the season.

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