Penguins Grades: ‘The Complete Opposite’; Pens Take Different Approach (+)

It wasn’t a game that brought fans to their feet or would give coach Mike Sullivan gray hairs. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 3-0 victory over the Seattle Kraken Monday at PPG Paints Arena wasn’t just a low-event game.

It was the lowest event game.

“I’m sure the coaching staff really likes low-event games,” Bryan Rust said with a smirk. “That’s how (we) need to win games here through the last half of the year.”

Indeed, a comprehensive defensive effort without silly chances and individual plays at the expense of responsibility is the way teams win in the playoffs. The Penguins may have to adopt that mode far sooner just to get there, but Rust and a couple of others noted that willingness to be the opposite of themselves from the last two games.

Sidney Crosby scored his 25th goal of the season three minutes into the second period, which gave the Penguins a 2-0 lead and seemingly put the relatively calm game out of reach. The Penguins’ captain also scored the empty netter.