Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, and the Pittsburgh Penguins overwhelmed the NHL’s newest team with an early offensive burst.
Crosby and Danton Heinen scored 25 seconds apart in the first period, Guentzel extended his point streak to 13 games with two goals and an assist, and the Penguins routed the Seattle Kraken 6-1 on Monday night.
Jeff Carter opened the scoring just 1:47 into the game, and Crosby followed with his fourth goal at 4:42, finishing a shot from the blue line from Guentzel. Moments later, Heinen’s wrist shot left the Kraken reeling.
“We had a great start,” Crosby said. “Getting the lead early takes the pressure off when you’re playing in a building like this.”
Seattle goalie Philipp Grubauer was pulled after Heinen’s goal and replaced by Joey Daccord. Grubauer faced four shots, three of which found the back of the net.
Seattle coach Dave Hakstol expressed his disappointment, especially after their impressive win over Edmonton last Friday.
“It’s not an acceptable way for us to start the hockey game and play throughout the 60 minutes,” Hakstol said. “We all know that. We own that. I’m not going to explain more of it away. That’s the reality of it.”
Guentzel scored his 14th goal of the season, and Carter added his second in the game on odd-man rushes late in the second period. The goals came just 23 seconds apart.
Guentzel added his 15th goal at 8:28 of the third period, giving him five goals in the past two games after a hat trick Saturday in Vancouver.
“He’s had some good runs, but he’s just doing everything so well,” Crosby said. “Whether it’s going to the net or you see his second goal tonight, that shot is perfect. He’s doing it all.”
Crosby finished with two points, giving him 11 in the past six games. Heinen had his first three-point game of the season, adding two assists to his seventh goal.
Daccord made 24 saves for Seattle. Jordan Eberle scored his 12th goal of the season early in the second period, but it was a lackluster performance by the Kraken, who had been one of the hottest teams in the NHL. Seattle had won five of seven and earned 11 points during that stretch but suffered its worst home loss.
“That just can’t happen. It’s that simple,” Eberle said. “You get behind against them; it’s tough.”
Pittsburgh goalie Casey DeSmith made 28 saves, including a critical one late in the second period when he deflected Morgan Geekie’s pass for a wide-open Jared McCann. A minute later, Guentzel scored, turning a potential 3-2 game into a 5-1 rout.
It was DeSmith’s first win of the season in his fifth start.
“Mentally, that was big for me to go out there and get a solid win,” he said.
While Guentzel extended his point streak, there was brief concern after he took a shot from Adam Larsson off his hand late in the first period. He returned for one more shift but went back to the locker room. He was back on the ice for his first shift of the second period.
STREAKING
Guentzel’s streak is the longest active point streak in the league and the third-longest this season behind Connor McDavid (17 games) and Troy Terry (16). Guentzel has 12 goals and seven assists during the streak.
CARTER’S COMPANY
Carter became the second player to record a multipoint game against all 32 teams, joining Derick Brassard.
“Some weird goals tonight. I think I didn’t even shoot at the net on either of my two,” Carter said. “But that’s the way it goes sometimes.”
NOTES
Seattle scratched F Colin Blackwell, F Kole Lind, and D Haydn Fleury. Seattle also did not activate F Calle Jarnkrok from injured reserve. Jarnkrok was a game-time decision after missing the previous five games. Blackwell scored his second goal, and Lind picked up his first career point with an assist last Friday against Edmonton. Pittsburgh scratched C Brian Boyle, RW Sam Lafferty, and D Mark Friedman.
UP NEXT
- Penguins: At Washington on Friday.
- Kraken: Host Winnipeg on Thursday.
