Sleepy in Seattle, Penguins Tanking Continues; Malkin Injured

SEATTLE  — A nothing sort of play became a goal against after two, if not three, Pittsburgh Penguins (20-23-8) went to the wrong spots. A 2-1 game within reach became another meandering Penguins loss. For the second time in two weeks, the Seattle Kraken (22-25-3) got the important third-period goals, beating the Penguins 4-1 at Climate Pledge Arena.

Both Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and winger Michael Bunting trailed Jared McCann to the corner while Matt Grzelcyk drifted to the goal line. The defensive collapse left the middle of the ice wide open, and Eli Tolvanen (12) had a clear and easy shot.

The Penguins are now 2-3-0 on the seven-game road trip and at least five points out of a playoff spot. They trail the Columbus Blue Jackets by five points and have played two more games. Columbus hosts the LA Kings Saturday night. The deficit could be seven plus Columbus’s game in hand by the end of the night.

The game was an even slog without much space or opportunity until the Penguins gifted Seattle a two-man advantage late in the second period. There was little doubt about Cody Glass’s slashing penalty and Kris Letang’s cross-check 40 seconds later.

On the resulting 5v3, Oliver Bjorkstrand screened Penguins goalie Joel Blomqvist well, and defenseman Vince Dunn (9) stepped into a heavy shot from the top of the slot past Blomqvist at 17:46.

The first-period action might be more appropriately summed up with blank space. Until a Penguins power play later in the period, the shots were a less-than-rousing 4-3 in favor of the Penguins after 15 minutes. The drama was the health of center Evgeni Malkin, who tried to line up Seattle center Chandler Stephenson for an open ice hit.

However, Malkin missed and Stephenson’s shin contacted Malkin’s extended leg. Malkin left the ice around the 11:00 mark, returned for one shift, and then went back to the locker room. He did not return.

Penguins rookie goalie Joel Blomqvist made his first start since being recalled from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last week in the wake of the team waiving Tristan Jarry. Blomqvist calmly made a pair of great danger saves, including stopping a two-on-none following a Sidney Crosby turnover and Eli Tolvanen’s breakaway following a late first-period Penguins power play.

Once the early afternoon sleepies wore off, the teams began to play something more resembling NHL hockey in the second period. Seattle went first.

Toward the end of the dominant shift by the Penguin’s third line with Kevin Hayes, Drew O’Connor, and Philip Tomasino, defenseman Kris Letang was stripped at the blue line by Stephenson. Oliver Bjorkstrand (14) buried the resulting three-on-two rush for a 1-0 Seattle lead at 2:16 of the second.

The Seattle goal spurred the Penguins, who increased the pressure for the next few minutes until Rickard Rakell zipped a pass to Sidney Crosby in the low slot. Crosby (14) quickly snapped the shot past Seattle goalie Joey Daccord at 4:34.

Seattle put the game away with a pair of goals in the third period. Matty Berniers (13) converted a Karlsson turnover in the third for a 4-1 lead at 13:06.

Blomqvist was stellar. He stopped 17 of the first 19 shots after 40 minutes, but his stat line was poor. He finished with 21 saves on 25 shots.

The Penguins had 13 shots in the third period but few scoring chances.

UPDATE: Coach Mike Sullivan did not have an update on Malkin following the game.

Penguins Notes

Before the game, coach Mike Sullivan reported winger Bryan Rust is out but only day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Forward Boko Imama made his Penguins debut. He was recalled Saturday morning when the team demoted defenseman Owen Pickering. Imama played six games for the Ottawa Senators last season and had played 15 career NHL games prior to Saturday. He played over eight minutes.

The Penguins were bruised by blocking numerous shots. Crosby appeared to hurt his right hand on one block but remained in the game. Noel Acciari blocked a heavy shot by Andre Burakovsky and needed to have a conversation with the trainers.

When the teams played 11 days ago, the Penguins led Seattle 2-1 after two periods but gave up three unanswered goals in a 4-2 loss at PPG Paints Arena.

Penguins forward Matt Nieto was felled in the third period by a deflected shot that hit him in the face. He did not return.