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.

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,

Facing what was arguably a must-win game for all intents and purposes, the Anaheim Ducks cruised to a dominant victory Thursday night over Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Forward Bryan Rust left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return as Penguins failed to muster any offense

The Penguins fail to stay hot in California, getting outclassed in a 5-1 loss against the Ducks in Anaheim on Thursday.

The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night at Honda Center. The Ducks entered this game on a four-game winless streak and had only won one of their last seven games. The Pens were fresh off a big 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday but had only won three of their last 13 entering this game.

Killorn scored twice on five shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Penguins. Killorn's first-period tally was the game-winner, and he added an empty-netter in the third.

It was only fitting that, a game removed from pouring it on against the NHL’s stingiest defensive team, the Pittsburgh Penguins couldn’t keep the league’s least prolific offense in check.

The Pittsburgh Penguins did not like their start despite taking the first seven shots of the game. They liked their pushback even though they never tied the game, let alone took the lead, in a 5-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center.

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.

Coach Cronin says the forward, who missed about six weeks with a torn meniscus, has picked up the pace and intensity as the team hosts Nashville on Saturday