Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan didn’t need to tell Sidney Crosby to shoot more often. He knows Crosby’s instincts are spot-on.
“Quite honestly, we just try to stay out of his way,” Sullivan said. “He thinks it better than we do.”
At 36, Crosby still plays the game better than most.
Crosby scored twice, moving within one goal of Hall of Famer Mark Recchi for 21st on the all-time goals list, as the Penguins snapped Seattle’s franchise-record nine-game winning streak with a 3-0 victory on Monday.
Tristan Jarry stopped all 22 shots he faced for his fifth shutout of the season, handing Seattle its first loss since Dec. 18 and its first regulation loss since Dec. 10.
The Kraken, riding a month of impressive play that vaulted them into playoff contention in the Western Conference, struggled without key players Vince Dunn, Matty Beniers, and Andre Burakovsky. Seattle generated little offense against Jarry and a determined Pittsburgh team.
“I just didn’t think we executed well enough,” Kraken center Jaden Schwartz said. “We looked a little tired at times. Just didn’t have that same jump and energy.”
The Penguins, seeking a fresh start after consecutive overtime losses, controlled play early in the game. The teams moved the game time from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. to avoid conflicting with the NFL playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills.
Pittsburgh took the lead early in the second period. Marcus Pettersson’s stretch pass to Evgeni Malkin set up Bryan Rust, who then passed to Drew O’Connor for a goal 49 seconds into the period.
Crosby added his 575th career goal shortly after, one-timing a shot past Joey Daccord at 3:32 of the second period. He later sealed the win with an empty-netter, his 576th career goal.
Seattle, which had trailed for just 56:50 during its nine-game winning streak, found no rally this time despite Daccord’s 30 saves. The Kraken, featuring several former Penguins, including two-time Stanley Cup winner Brian Dumoulin, couldn’t find space against Pittsburgh’s defense.
Crosby is on pace for his first 50-goal season since 2009-10 and is closing in on Mark Recchi and Jari Kurri on the all-time goals list. His ability to both score and set up plays has been a hallmark of his nearly two-decade career.
The Penguins have struggled offensively this season, particularly on the power play. Crosby’s increased shooting has been a key factor in their recent success.
“Sid, he takes what the game gives him,” Sullivan said. “When the plays are there to make a play, he does. When there’s opportunities to put the puck at the net and shoot the puck, he does.”
Upcoming Games
- Kraken: Visit the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
- Penguins: Head west for a two-game road trip starting in Las Vegas on Saturday.
