PITTSBURGH — Evgeni Malkin raised his arms in the air and jumped into the glass in cathartic celebration. For several tense third period minutes, the Pittsburgh Penguins (10-6-5) created several wild scrambles in the Seattle Kraken (11-5-5) crease but just missed scoring.
Malkin (6) jammed the puck past Seattle goalie Philip Grubauer at 5:56 of the third period to finish their fourth power play of the game and give the Penguins a well-earned 2-1 lead.
With momentum surging, the Penguins were cruising, but Seattle’s Matty Beniers (3) was uncovered in the right circle later in the third period and had plenty of time to pick a corner over Penguins rookie goalie Sergei Murashov to tie the game 2-2 at 12:36.
The Penguins had numerous great chances in overtime, but a snipe by Seattle defenseman Brandon Montour (4) with 49 seconds remaining in OT handed the Penguins yet another extra-time loss this season.
The Penguins are 0-2 in overtime and 0-3 in shootouts this season.
Penguins super-rookie Ben Kindel made a rare mistake early in the second period and held the puck too long. Seattle forward Mason Marchment (2) stole the puck, stepped forward into the left circle, and pointed a wrist shot past Murashov at 1:24.
In a flash, the Penguins’ growing pressure paused, but did not cease. They pushed again throughout the second period, but ultimately couldn’t complete the last leg of numerous plays until Seattle goalie Philip Grubauer didn’t see Penguins winger Connor Dewar lurking on the left wall.
From behind the net, Grubauer’s clearing attempt went directly to Dewar, who immediately ripped a pass to Sidney Crosby racing toward the net. Grubauer wasn’t able to get into position, and Crosby (13) tapped it into the yawning cage, ending the Penguins’ nearly five-period goal drought at 16:16.
The game began well. The Penguins immediately reversed the slovenly course from the previous 24 hours. The Penguins relatively dominated the first period, and the league’s least awarded team even drew three power plays.
However, while they outshot Seattle 9-3 in the first period, keeping Murashov cool and comfy. Their game improved throughout the period, but that last pass or clean looks eluded them, and Grubauer made all nine saves.
Between nearly 39 minutes he played on Friday, and the first 20 Saturday, Murashov faced only 13 combined shots in those three periods.
Ben Kindel, Anthony Mantha, and Ryan Shea each had two shots in the first, but the Penguins managed just two shots on their three power plays.
With the goal and an assist on Malkin’s goal, Sidney Crosby became just the sixth player in NHL history to record 500 multi-point games.
Mursashov stopped 18 of 20 shots in regulation. Grubauer snared 29 of 31.
About one minute into overtime, defenseman Kris Letang hit the post.
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