The Pittsburgh Penguins kick off their road trip with a win against the Seattle Kraken, but it wasn't a walk in the park! Let's dive into the details of this hard-fought victory.
Pregame Buzz:
Coach shakes things up! Ryan Graves gets into the lineup, while Jack St. Ivany gets a night off. Stuart Skinner gets the nod in goal.
First Period: A Wild Ride
The Penguins didn't exactly start with a bang. Skinner had to make a crucial save early on to deny Eeli Tolvanen on a breakaway. The Penguins got a power play, but they couldn't capitalize. However, they scored anyway! Blake Lizotte's pass to Parker Wotherspoon somehow found its way into the net, with Anthony Mantha's positioning in front of the net significantly hindering the goalie's vision. 1-0 Penguins! Who needs a power play when you have a bit of luck?
But the Kraken get a power play, yet the Penguins score again! Connor Dewar steals the puck, goes on a breakaway, and scores. 2-0!
Seattle responds with a goal of their own. Ben Meyers scores, making it 2-1.
The Penguins had a tough start, with only three shots at 5v5. The Kraken weren't much better, with five shots at 5v5.
Second Period: Battling Back
Lizotte gets a penalty, but the Penguins kill it off. Seattle wins a battle, and Ryan Lindgren scores, tying the game 2-2.
But the Penguins answered! Sidney Crosby sets up Brett Kulak, who scores from a distance, making it 3-2 with five minutes to go. Ben Kindel gets hit hard, and the Penguins get another power play but fail to score. The Penguins managed a 15-8 shot advantage in the second period.
Third Period: Closing It Out
The Penguins start strong, but Daccord makes a great save. Brazeau scores, making it 4-2. The pressure continues, and Kulak gets another penalty, and Tolvanen scores, making it 4-3. Brandon Montour gets a penalty, but the Penguins score! Rickard Rakell scores, making it 5-3. Seattle pulls their goalie, but the Penguins hold on for a 6-3 win.
Key Takeaways:
- The Early Struggles: The early start, following a long flight, seemed to affect the Penguins. They improved as the game went on.
- Seattle's Grit: The Kraken made the Penguins work hard along the boards.
- Vision Issues: The Penguins capitalized on shots where the goalie's vision was obstructed.
- Dewar's Shorthanded Goal: It was only the Penguins' second shorthanded goal of the season, a bit surprising considering their strong penalty kill.
- Defenseman Scoring: It was only the second game of the season where two defensemen scored.
- Lineup Choices: The coaches opted to dress four left-handed defensemen, a rarity. This move allowed Graves to play his first game in over a month.
- Clifton's Rise: Connor Clifton has been playing well, showcasing his physical play and improved skating.
- Penalty Kill: The Penguins' penalty kill gave up its first goal in 21 attempts.
- Power Play Struggles: The power play hasn't been performing well, especially with Erik Karlsson's absence.
- Crosby's Milestone: Crosby played his 1,400th career NHL game, with a casual two-point night. He's only behind Wayne Gretzky in points through 1,400 games.
Next Up:
The Penguins head to Calgary next to face the Flames.
What are your thoughts on the game? Did the Penguins' slow start surprise you? Share your opinions in the comments below!
