Penguins shut out by Kraken, winning streak snapped

Seth Rorabaugh
Friday, March 1, 2024 12:48 a.m. | Friday, March 1, 2024 12:48 a.m.

Penguins forward Jeff Carter tries to score against Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the second period Thursday.

Penguins center Sidney Crosby sends the puck to the crease as Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Vince Dunn defend during the second period Thursday.

Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann (19) attempts to score on Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry as defenseman Marcus Pettersson dives to the ice during the first period Thursday.

Seattle Kraken right wing Oliver Bjorkstrand celebrates after his goal as Penguins defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph looks on during the first period Thursday.

Penguins right wing Reilly Smith tries to score on Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer during the first period Thursday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins had a modest three-game winning streak halted as they were shut out for the third time this season, losing to the Seattle Kraken, 2-0, at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Thursday.

Kraken goaltender Philip Grubauer unofficially made 33 saves to record his first shutout of the season and the 21st of his career.

The Penguins were shut out despite holding a 33-28 lead in shots as well as a 72-51 advantage in attempted shots.

Previously in 2023-24, the Penguins were blanked Nov. 22 by the New York Rangers (1-0, at home) and Dec. 16 by the Toronto Maple Leafs (7-0, on the road).

The loss dropped the Penguins’ record this season to 27-22-8, equating to 62 points.

Jarry’s record fell to 17-18-4 after he made 26 saves on 28 shots.

“I think this time of the year, that’s what we have to go for,” Jarry said to the Associated Press in Seattle. “A lot of teams are playing defense a lot stiffer and I think you’re going to see a lot more lower scoring games just with how tight the conference and the divisions are.”

Kraken forward Oliver Bjorkstrand’s 15th goal of the season opened the scoring 12:25 into regulation.

From the right point of the offensive zone, Kraken defenseman Will Borgen fired a one-timer toward the cage that struck off some portion of the anatomy of Kraken forward Alexander Wennberg, positioned in the right circle. The resulting rebound popped up in the air and returned to the earth just to the right of the crease where Bjorkstrand established position on unsuspecting Penguins defenseman P.O Joseph and shuffled a forehand shot that clunked through the five hole of Jarry. Wennberg and Borgen had assists.

Seattle goal!

Scored by Oliver Bjorkstrand with 07:35 remaining in the 1st period.

Assisted by Alex Wennberg and Will Borgen.

Seattle: 1
Pittsburgh: 0#PITvsSEA #SeaKraken #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/6Ot3bP7YYL

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 1, 2024

Wennberg scored his ninth goal on a power-play opportunity at 15:01 of the third period.

Settling a loose puck in the right corner of the offensive zone, Wennberg drove to the cage along the goal line but lost possession due to a poke check by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. Kraken forward Kailer Yamamoto followed up on the sequence from the slot and shot the rebound with a forehand shot that Jarry denied. On the ensuing scramble, the puck trickled to the left of the crease where Wennberg settled the puck with his left skate and lifted a forehand shot over a scrambling Jarry. Yamamoto and forward Eeli Tolvanen tallied assists.

Power play goal for Seattle!

Scored by Alex Wennberg with 04:58 remaining in the 3rd period.

Assisted by Kailer Yamamoto and Eeli Tolvanen.

Seattle: 2
Pittsburgh: 0#PITvsSEA #SeaKraken #LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/TH2bBfWl1c

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 1, 2024

“I feel like the third period, we were determined to win this game,” Wennberg said to the AP. “And that’s all that matters.”

Notes:

• Prior to the game, the Penguins assigned rookie forward Jonathan Gruden to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Earlier in the day, he had been recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while veteran forward Bryan Rust was placed on injured reserve due to an undisclosed ailment.

• Gruden as well as rookie forward Matthew Phillips and defenseman John Ludvig were officially listed as healthy scratches for the Penguins.

• The Penguins’ power play was 0 for 3 with seven shots.

• Penguins forward Jeff Carter appeared in his 1,300th career game.

• The Penguins’ all-time record on “leap day” fell to 4-5-0.

• The Kraken, a team that entered the NHL in 2021, recorded a shutout against the Penguins for the first time in franchise history.

• Tolvanen’s assist was his 32nd point of the season (14 goals, 18 assists), a new career high.

• Kraken coach Dave Hakstol appeared in his 500th career game.

Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.