Penguins 6, Kraken 3
Sometimes the little things add up.
Oh, and then there’s Sidney Crosby. The future Hall of Famer, in his 21st NHL season, made a huge difference in this one. With two assists, one on the key insurance goal by Rickard Rakell late in the 3rd period, Crosby has three consecutive multi-point games as the Penguins fight for a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, former Everett Silvertips captain Connor Dewar, about 1,200 behind Crosby in the NHL games played department, picked up a shorthanded goal and added an empty-netter for the winners.
Back to the little things.
The Penguins won the key puck battles, they out-shot the Kraken 32-23, and the won almost 55% of the face-offs. In a game closer than the score indicated — it was still a toss-up with four minutes remaining the third period — the little things make a difference. The visitors from Pittsburgh were truly opportunistic.
4th-line center Ben Meyers, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, and winger Eeli Tolvanen scored for the Kraken. Tolvanen’s came on the power play with a rocket from the right circle to cut what was a 4-2 3rd period deficit to 4-3 at 7:47, but Seattle couldn’t muster any more offense.
Joey Daccord took the loss in net. Stuart Skinner picked up the win for the Penguins.
Pittsburgh slipped into 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division while Seattle fell from 3rd place in the Pacific Division to the 2nd wild card spot in the Western Conference, tied with two other teams with 51 points.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Lose A Biggee To Mammoth 6-3
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks Jim Rutherford; NHL’s Greatest VentriloquistÂ