Adam Larsson scores OT winner as Seattle Kraken beat Penguins 2-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Seattle Kraken clinched a rare away win — and made team history along the way.

Seattle Kraken 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 box score

Adam Larsson went 1-17 in overtime to give the Kraken their first overtime win, 2-1 over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

“It’s a gratifying win for us, but one we worked for,” said Kraken coach Dave Hakstol. “Our game hasn’t changed much from the release of the puck to the winning goal in overtime.”

OH HOW SWEDISH IT IS! 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/sZ6M3LteXQ

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 28, 2022

With the Kraken trailing 1-0, Jared McCann scored against his former side with 3:56 left to force extra time.

Larsson, who scored in consecutive games for the first time in his career, then won it in overtime to give Seattle their fourth win in six games after a nine-game losing streak.

Seattle just picked up their fifth away win of the season, improving from it to 5-11-2. The Kraken’s last away win came on December 14 in San Jose when they lost their last four games away.

Philipp Grubauer stopped 23 shots while helping the Kraken end the Penguins’ six-game winning streak.

“Great work from everyone,” said Grubauer. “I don’t think they had too many crazy chances. We played very tight and didn’t give them much room to make plays. After we gave up that goal, we were right back.”

Evgeni Malkin scored his fourth goal of the season, a power play goal at 8:41 of the third, but the Penguins ended their best winning streak in eight home games of the season. Tristan Jarry made 27 saves for Pittsburgh, who have still won 17 of their last 20 games overall.

“We beat ourselves in the third period,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. “We’ve evolved into a high-risk hockey team. It’s hard to win consistently when you’re playing a high-risk game.”

McCann equalized at 4:04 of the third when he deflected Vince Dunn’s spot shot behind Jarry.

Vengeance courtesy of Canner! pic.twitter.com/BUNbPCPhbV

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 28, 2022

McCann played portions of three seasons with Pittsburgh, scoring 39 goals and 84 points in 141 regular-season games. Pittsburgh traded McCann to Toronto in the 2021 offseason and he was eventually selected by Seattle in the expansion draft. McCann, who leads the Kraken in points, is two goals away from his career high.

“I’m very grateful to this organization for giving me the chance to play,” McCann said. “You brought my career back to life.”

Neither team scored in the first two halves as Pittsburgh held a 20-9 advantage in shots. That included an 11-2 lead in the second half as Seattle went 16-57 without a shot through the end of the first and the beginning of the second.

Grubauer saved Jeff Carter with a sliding pad in a 2v1 with Evan Rodrigues. Later in the period, Pittsburgh pressed with a 91-second substitution in the Seattle zone that resembled a power play, but the Penguins failed to capitalize.

The Kraken poured it the rest of the way, knocking out Pittsburgh 18-4 in the third period and 2-0 in overtime.

“One of the things I liked the most was that we pushed a bit in the third period, even at 0-0, without risking our game,” said Hakstol. “It’s a good quality for our team.”

EXPANSION SUCCESS IN PITTSBURGH

Seattle became the fifth expansion team in league history to win its first game in Pittsburgh, along with Los Angeles, St. Louis, Buffalo and Edmonton. Expansion teams are 5-13-9 all-time in their first away games against Pittsburgh.

“It’s a good win in this building,” said Hakstol. “It’s hard to win.”

GO STREAKING

Larsson scored a point in three consecutive games for the first time since February 2015, setting his career best for goals in a season.

Malkin missed the first 34 games of the season with offseason knee surgery but has four goals and 10 points in nine games. He has two goals and seven points during a six-game scoring streak.

PEN POWERPLAY

Pittsburgh has power-play goals in five of their last six games. The Penguins have converted 10 of their last 12 overall with the man advantage.

PENGUIN CONNECTION

Three other Kraken skaters alongside McCann — Riley Sheahan, Jamie Oleksiak and Brandon Tanev — and two Seattle executives — Ron Francis and Jason Botterill — also have ties to the penguins.

Sheahan played 122 regular season games with the Penguins, totaling 18 goals and 41 points. Tanev, who missed his 12th game with a cruciate ligament tear, was selected in the expansion draft from Pittsburgh while Oleksiak had 25 points in 83 regular-season games.

Francis won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in the 1991-92 season, while Botterill served in a front-office role in the franchise’s three most recent championships (2009, 2016-17).

NEXT

Kraken: Continuing a four-game road trip on Saturday at the New York Islanders.

Penguins: Continue a six-game homestand against Detroit on Friday.

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