Penguins Stay Perfect on Western Swing, Ride Skinner’s Heroics and Kindel’s Breakout in Win Over Canucks
The Penguins wrapped up their western road trip in style, holding off a late Vancouver push to secure a 3-2 win and finish the swing a perfect 4-0. It wasn’t always pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but Pittsburgh leaned on timely scoring, a breakout performance from rookie Ben Kindel, and another rock-solid showing in net from Stuart Skinner to get the job done.
Let’s break down how this one unfolded in Vancouver.
First Period: Two Goals Called Back, Zero on the Board
The Penguins thought they had the early lead when Egor Chinakhov tucked one home from in tight, but the celebration was short-lived. A Vancouver challenge revealed Chinakhov had jumped a step ahead of the play at the blue line-offside, no goal.
Not long after, the Canucks had their own would-be goal wiped away. Conor Garland blasted a slapshot past Skinner, but Teddy Blueger had backed himself deep into the crease, making contact with the Pittsburgh netminder. The interference was clear, and the goal was waved off immediately.
In the middle of all that, Pittsburgh’s blue line took a hit. Jack St. Ivany left the bench with an upper-body injury after just three shifts, forcing the Penguins to go the rest of the way with five defensemen.
Despite the disallowed goals, both teams had their chances. Vancouver edged the shot count 9-8, and Skinner made a handful of sharp stops to keep things level after one.
Second Period: Penguins Open It Up
Vancouver got the first power play of the night after Anthony Mantha caught a Canuck up high with his stick, but the Penguins’ penalty kill-anchored once again by Skinner-stood tall.
Then came the breakthrough.
Pittsburgh’s second line has been buzzing lately, and they delivered again. Chinakhov made a heads-up play to pick off a puck in the neutral zone, and Jiri Novak quickly transitioned it the other way. He found a streaking Evgeni Malkin, who buried it to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
From there, it became the Ben Kindel show.
The 18-year-old rookie hadn’t scored in 19 games, but you wouldn’t have known it from the way he played. Kindel redirected a puck from close range for his first of the night-right in front of 180 family and friends in attendance for his homecoming in Vancouver.
And he wasn’t done.
Later in the period, Kindel struck again, this time with authority. His shot not only found the back of the net but also shattered the in-net camera for good measure. Just like that, Pittsburgh was up 3-0, and the rookie had turned a goal drought into a two-goal night.
Third Period: Canucks Push, Skinner Slams the Door
Vancouver didn’t go quietly.
It took them nearly six minutes to register a shot in the third, but when they did, they made it count. Jake DeBrusk followed up a rebound and put one past Skinner to cut the lead to 3-1.
Then, with six minutes to go, Filip Hronek uncorked a heavy slapshot that pinballed around before deflecting off Teddy Blueger and into the net. Suddenly, it was a one-goal game.
The Canucks pulled Kevin Lankinen for the extra attacker in the final minutes, and they threw everything they had at the net. But Skinner was up to the task, making a sprawling, highlight-reel save that brought back memories of Marc-Andre Fleury’s heroics in his prime.
Vancouver kept pressing, but the Penguins held firm. When the final buzzer sounded, Pittsburgh had secured the win-and a clean sweep of their western road trip.
Postgame Takeaways: Kindel’s Moment, Skinner’s Steadiness, and a Milestone for the Core
Ben Kindel’s Breakout
It wasn’t just the two goals-it was the timing, the setting, and the emotion behind them.
Kindel had been playing well in all three zones despite the scoring drought, but finding the net twice in front of a hometown crowd made it a night to remember. Between the team’s rookie party and his family watching from a luxury box, it’s safe to say this was a weekend he won’t forget-no matter what it cost him.
Skinner’s Steady Hand
Once again, Stuart Skinner delivered.
He didn’t face an overwhelming volume of shots, but when the Canucks threatened-especially early in the second and late in the third-he was locked in. According to Moneypuck, Vancouver had over two expected goals by the halfway point of the game.
Skinner kept them off the board until the third, and his late-game save with the extra attacker looming large was the difference between a win and another blown lead.
Novak’s Two-Way Impact
Jiri Novak continues to impress with his play in the neutral zone.
Whether it’s disrupting breakouts or carrying the puck with control, he’s been a key part of Pittsburgh’s transition game. His assist on the Malkin goal was a perfect example of how his awareness and quick decision-making are starting to translate into tangible production.
St. Ivany’s Early Exit
Losing Jack St. Ivany early forced the Penguins to rotate five defensemen for most of the night.
Despite the challenge, the group held up well, and the coaching staff was able to manage Kris Letang’s return without overloading him. Letang logged 16:50 through two periods and wasn’t used on the penalty kill-a sign they’re still easing him back in after time away.
1,000 Games for the Big Three
A significant milestone flew a bit under the radar: this marked the 1,000th game (including playoffs) that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang have all been in the lineup together. That kind of longevity and consistency is almost unheard of in today’s NHL, and it’s a testament to how central they’ve been to Pittsburgh’s identity for over a decade.
Power Play Watch
One odd stat from the trip: the Penguins didn’t get a single power play in this game and had just six total opportunities over the four-game swing. That’s not ideal for a team that thrives on special teams, but with four wins in four tries, it’s hard to argue with the results.
Next Up: Back to the East
The Penguins now return home with some serious momentum. Four wins out west, a rookie finding his scoring touch, and a goaltender playing some of his best hockey-there’s a lot to like about where this team is heading. They’ll look to keep it rolling Thursday night when they host the Buffalo Sabres.