It won’t be the best matchup when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks meet on Thursday night. Both teams are in seventh in their respective divisions, with the Penguins heading for a rebuild and the Ducks still trying to emerge from their lengthy quest to be contenders.

Pregame analysis and predictions of the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Anaheim Ducks NHL game to be played on January 23, 2025 on ESPN.

Welcome back to NHL Predictions. Each day, Last Word on Hockey reviews the scheduled games and offers insight and analysis to help predict who will win in head-to-head matchups.

Forward Rickard Rakell - who missed Monday's game for family reasons - has rejoined the team and is expected to be back in the lineup against Anaheim. Rakell leads the Penguins in goals this season with 23 and figures to slot right back alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (20-21-8) again have a chance to get back to hockey .500, but more importantly, stack wins on a pivotal seven-game road trip. Thus far, the Penguins are 2-1-0 in the first three games and inching back into the continually mediocre middle of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Ducks look to snap a four-game losing streak tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Ducks are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. The Penguins are coming off a 5-1 victory over the Kings on Jan.

The Ducks will get back to work tonight in search of a bounce-back win, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Honda Center. PUCK DROP: 7 P.M. | WATCH: VICTORY+ / FOX PLUS (KCOP-13) | AUDIO: DUCKS STREAM

Thursday’s NHL play will see the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-21-8) take the ice against the Anaheim Ducks (18-23-6), starting at 10:00 PM ET at Honda Center and broadcast on ESPN+. The Penguins are 13th (with 48 points) in the Eastern Conference and the Ducks are 13th (42 points) in the Western Conference.

When the Pittsburgh Penguins meet the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Thursday (starting at 10:00 PM ET), Rickard Rakell and Ryan Strome will be two of the top players to watch. Buy tickets for this matchup at StubHub!

The Penguins are looking to add young NHL talent, making Rangers defenseman K'Andre Miller a perfect trade fit.

Many of the Penguins think the spark Nedeljkovic provides on and off the ice might be just what they need to make a postseason push.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (20-21-8) again have a chance to get back to hockey .500, but more importantly, stack wins on a pivotal seven-game road trip.