Sidney Crosby scores twice as Penguins edge Ducks 2-1 in overtime to end 6-game losing streak

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored his second goal of the game 2:35 into overtime as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Thursday night to end a six-game losing streak.

Crosby found himself in alone on Lukas Dostal and hit the brakes before roofing the puck over the Ducks' goaltender for the 93rd game-winning goal of his career.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 22 saves for Pittsburgh, which outshot Anaheim 46-23. Dostal stopped 44 shots to keep the Ducks in it, but it still wasn't enough.

Alex Killorn picked up his second goal of the season for the Ducks, who ended a four-game East Coast trip with a 1-2-1 mark.

Anaheim led going into the third period before Crosby tied it with a redirect off a point shot from Matt Grzelcyk 1:47 into the final frame.

Ducks: The 24-year-old Dostal has built off his strong finish to last season. He remained steady while facing near-relentless pressure from the Penguins while finishing with 40+ saves for the third time in six starts.

Penguins: Pittsburgh needed something positive to happen at the end of a miserable October and responded with a win in front of one of the smallest crowds in the history of PPG Paints Arena.

Nedeljkovic made three big saves down the stretch. He turned aside Trevor Zegras with the help of defenseman Marcus Pettersson with 4:25 to go, stoned Cutter Gauthier on a breakaway moments later and stopped a redirect by Pavel Mintyukov in the final seconds to force overtime.

85-12-5 — Pittsburgh's record during Crosby's career when their longtime captain scores at least twice.

The Ducks begin a six-game homestand on Sunday against the Blackhawks, while the Penguins host the Canadiens on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal makes a save on a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins' Michael Bunting (8) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won 2-1. (Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

Anaheim Ducks' Jackson LaCombe (2) defends Pittsburgh Penguins' Drew O'Connor in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) makes a second save on the Anaheim Ducks' Cutter Gauthier (61) late in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Grzelcyk (24) and Rickard Rakell (67) celebrate with Sidney Crosby after Crosby's game tying goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) leads the rush up ice past the Ducks' Brett Leason (20) in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) beats Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal for the game winner in overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates after beating Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal for the game winner in overtime of an NHL hockey game Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 in Pittsburgh. (Chaz Palla/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review via AP)

CHICAGO (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo returned Saturday night from the right calf strain that kept the two-time MVP from playing in the Milwaukee Bucks’ previous eight games.

Antetokounmpo was in the starting lineup for the Bucks’ game against the Chicago Bulls, after the team upgraded him after originally listing him as questionable on the injury report.

Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said before the game the nine-time All-Star won’t be thrown back into the grind right away.

“He’ll be on a minutes restriction,” Rivers said.

Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since injuring his calf less than three minutes into the Bucks’ 113-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec. 3. The injury came on Antetokounmpo’s fourth game back after a left adductor strain caused him to miss four games.

“Maybe it was a mistake of me coming back a little bit earlier, because once I come back, now you’re overcompensating,” Antetokounmpo said on Dec. 18. “The only way you can pop your soleus is by overcompensating and then having an extreme amount of load or play a lot of games in a short period of time. Again, I think all of the things that I was thinking and trying to come back led to the incident that I had with my soleus.”

The Bucks have gone 2-6 in the eight games Antetokounmpo has missed because of the calf issue. So far this season, the Bucks are 9-8 with Antetokounmpo and 3-11 without him.

Antetokounmpo, who turned 31 on Dec. 6, has averaged 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists this season.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

FILE - Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after suffering an injury during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kylie Bridenhagen, File)