A strong start became a weak finish, just as a strong effort Monday was washed away in a pond of mistakes and bad plays. The Pittsburgh Penguins (20-22-8) couldn’t find a second goal before bad plays and bad luck found them in a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks (19-23-6) at the Honda Center Friday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and perhaps Rickard Rakell got some good news since Sunday. Rakell left the team sometime after the loss on Saturday to the Washington Capitals to return to Pittsburgh and tend to a family matter.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust suffered an undisclosed injury and prematurely exited a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Thursday. Aside from a posting on one of the team’s social media accounts acknowledging the ailment,

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.

Some heavyweights threw hands Wednesday night. NHL refereeing has been under fire since the NHL made Connor McDavid sit in the corner for three games and think about his cross-check. The NHL trade rumors,

Mason McTavish scored twice and John Gibson made 31 saves against his hometown team, lifting the Ducks to a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at Honda Center. NHL GAMECENTER | DUCKS STREAM With the win,

Reaches 20-assist mark

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. 20. This is the second Ducks-Penguins matchup of the season after the Penguins took the first one in overtime in October.