Penguins/Kraken Recap: A Win for the Pens, But a Close Call!
The Game's Start: A Smooth Ride or a Rocky Road?
The Pittsburgh Penguins kicked off their road trip with a hard-fought 6-3 win over the Seattle Kraken. But it wasn't a smooth start. With Ryan Graves in the lineup and Jack St. Ivany taking a night off, the Penguins had to dig deep early on. Stuart Skinner was in goal, but the team's early performance was less than stellar. Skinner had to make a crucial save on Eeli Tolvanen early on, and the Penguins' first power play didn't yield much. But then, Blake Lizotte and Parker Wotherspoon combined to score out of nowhere, with Anthony Mantha's presence in front of the net creating a vision problem for goalie Joey Daccord. 1-0 Pens!
The Kraken's Power Play: A Surprising Twist?
The Kraken were awarded a power play, but it was the Penguins who struck again. Connor Dewar's breakaway goal, a result of knocking the puck away from an opponent, put the Pens up 2-0. Seattle responded with a goal of their own, but the Penguins' lead held. The first period ended with the Pens up, despite their less-than-impressive start, with only three shots at 5v5 and seven total.
The Middle Frame: A Battle of the Boards
The second period was heavy on wall battles, and Seattle won one of those battles when Justin Brazeau couldn't clear the defensive zone. A short pass from Ryan Winterton to Ryan Lindgren tied the game at 2-2. But Pittsburgh found an answer with Sidney Crosby winning an offensive zone faceoff back to Brett Kulak, who scored a long-range goal. The Pens were back in front, 3-2, with five minutes to go. Ben Kindel's late hit on Lindgren gave the Penguins their second power play, but Seattle's 32nd-ranked penalty kill held strong.
The Third Period: A Late-Game Drama?
The Penguins started the third period strong, with Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov nearly scoring. But it was Anthony Mantha's drop pass that set up Brazeau's top-shelf shot, giving the Pens a 4-2 lead with 17:39 to go. The pressure continued, with Kulak hammering a shot on net. However, the rebound was knocked off the post by Noel Acciari. Kulak's second minor penalty of the game allowed Seattle to make them pay. Eeli Tolvanen's slapshot gave the Kraken a 4-3 lead with 12:13 to go.
The Final Blow: A Power Play and a Dagger?
Brandon Montour's penalty gave the Pens a chance, but they couldn't score on the power play. Instead, Rickard Rakell delivered the dagger with a quick pass from Crosby, jamming the puck in front of the net. The final score was 5-3, with Dewar extending the lead with a shot from way back.
Post-Game Thoughts: A Win, But Questions Remain
The Penguins' early start wasn't their best, but they adjusted and won. Seattle clogged things up and made Pittsburgh play a hard game along the boards. Dewar's shorthanded goal was only Pittsburgh's second of the season, a surprise given their generally strong penalty kill. It was also only the second game of the season where two defensemen scored for the Pens. The coaches' decision to dress four left-handed defensemen instead of St. Ivany raised questions, and Connor Clifton's recent form has been impressive. The Penguins' power play, however, has been underperforming, and Erik Karlsson's absence has been felt.
The Pens head to Calgary next, aiming to repay the Flames for their recent win in Pittsburgh. Will they continue their winning streak? Stay tuned for more hockey action!
