Penguins Postgame: Cutting Out Dumb, Pens Grind Win

It doesn’t have to be pretty to be good. The Pittsburgh Penguins cut out the silly, stupid mistakes and kept the puck away from the Seattle Kraken in a 3-0 win at PPG Paints Arena Monday.

It was the type of game that makes coaches happy, even if it doesn’t excite the fans. Goalie Tristan Jarry earned his fourth shutout this season, and Sidney Crosby scored a pair of goals in his season-long march with the team on his back. (Editor’s note: The NHL and other statistical sites, including ESPN, differ between four and five shutouts).

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The Penguins’ performance was a 180-degree change from the loose, mistake-filled overtime loss to the Carolina. Coach Mike Sullivan and defenseman Marcus Pettersson were pleased with the change.

“We weren’t happy with the way we played — just taking too many chances against Carolina,” Pettersson said Monday. “And I think it was the complete opposite today. So, hopefully, we can build on it.”

The Penguins outshot Seattle 33-22, and it was the team’s fifth shutout this season. The win also elevated the Penguins to the eighth-best winning percentage (.573), which would be good enough for a playoff spot.