The Penguins' road trip begins with a thrilling victory over the Kraken! But was it a smooth ride?
Pregame Buzz:
The Penguins make a lineup change, bringing in Ryan Graves and resting Jack St. Ivany. Stuart Skinner is trusted with the net.
First Period Drama:
Despite a shaky start, the Penguins find themselves ahead. Skinner denies Eeli Tolvanen's breakaway chance, and although their first power play is uneventful, they score soon after. A clever pass from Blake Lizotte to Parker Wotherspoon results in a goal, thanks to Anthony Mantha's imposing presence blocking the goalie's view. 1-0 Pens, and they didn't even need that power play!
But the Kraken strike back with a power play of their own. Connor Dewar steals the puck and scores on a breakaway, making it 2-0.
Seattle responds quickly. A miscommunication between Skinner and Brett Kulak leads to Ben Meyers scoring a beauty. 2-1, and the first period ends with the Pens up, despite a slow start.
Second Period Battle:
The middle frame sees more physical play and wall battles. Lizotte takes a minor penalty, but the Pens kill it off. Seattle ties the game after winning a battle in their defensive zone, with Ryan Winterton setting up Ryan Lindgren for the goal. 2-2.
Pittsburgh fights back. Sidney Crosby wins a faceoff, Kulak takes a long-range shot, and it's 3-2. The Pens maintain control, but Seattle's penalty kill unit holds strong.
Third Period Showdown:
The Pens come out firing in the final period. Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov almost connect for a goal, but Daccord makes a great save. However, he's soon beaten by Justin Brazeau's top-shelf shot, assisted by Mantha's clever pass. 4-2 Pens.
The pressure continues, and Kulak's shot creates a rebound that Noel Acciari nearly converts. Kulak then takes a minor penalty, and Tolvanen scores on a powerful slapshot, cutting the lead to 4-3.
Pittsburgh has a chance to seal the game on the power play but fails to capitalize. Instead, Rickard Rakell delivers the dagger, assisted by Crosby. 5-3.
Seattle pulls their goalie, but Dewar seals the deal with an empty-netter, making it 6-3.
Post-Game Reflections:
- The Pens' slow start could be attributed to travel fatigue, but they found their rhythm as the game progressed.
- Seattle deserves credit for making it a physical battle, especially along the boards, which made it a challenging night for Crosby and the Pens.
- The Penguins' strategy of screening the goalie paid off, as they scored on long-distance shots when Daccord's vision was obstructed.
- Dewar's shorthanded goal was a rare occurrence for Pittsburgh this season, despite their strong penalty kill and even-strength productivity.
- The coaches' decision to dress four left-handed defensemen instead of St. Ivany raises questions about his future in the lineup.
- Connor Clifton has been a standout in recent games, showcasing physicality and improved skating and puck-moving skills.
- The Penguins' penalty kill unit conceded their first goal in 21 attempts, a powerful slapshot from Tolvanen, but they had earlier scored a goal of their own.
- The power play has been underperforming, particularly against stronger penalty kills, which might be due to the absence of Erik Karlsson.
- Crosby's 1,400th career NHL game was a memorable one, with a two-point night. He continues to impress, ranking second in points through 1,400 games, only behind the legendary Wayne Gretzky.
The Penguins now travel north to face the Calgary Flames, seeking revenge for their recent loss. Will they continue their winning ways? Stay tuned!
