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.

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.

BOTTOM LINE: The Anaheim Ducks look to break their four-game skid when they play the Pittsburgh Penguins. Anaheim has an 18-23-6 record overall and a 9-12-2 record in home games. The Ducks have gone 7-11-4 in games they have more penalties than their opponent.

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!

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 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.

The in-state rivals Ducks and Sharks have gotten together on a trade of minor league players on Wednesday afternoon.

Brock McGinn is out for the remainder of the season after the Anaheim Ducks forward had surgery for a torn ACL last week. The Ducks said the recovery timeline is 7-9 months.

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.