SEATTLE — It’s been a season full of unlikely heroes for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Monday’s road win was perhaps the greatest example yet.

Brett Kulak became the 26th different goal-scorer for Pittsburgh, the most in the NHL, when he slammed in a one-timer late in the second period. None of the Penguins’ first four goal-scorers Monday were on the team this time a year ago.

The Penguins beat the Kraken 6-3 at Climate Pledge Arena Monday, with two of those goals coming from fourth-line forward Connor Dewar.

Moments after the Penguins were unable to score in their first power play against the league’s worst penalty kill, Parker Wotherspoon put them on top anyway. He rifled a shot from the point past Joey Daccord with major traffic in front of the Kraken net, primarily thanks to the big body of Anthony Mantha.

Dewar made it 2-0 a couple of minutes later with a short-handed goal after he stole the puck at the Penguins’ blue line and raced down the ice for a breakaway score.

Pittsburgh looked poised to blow out a team that was 1-3-2 in its last six games. But Ben Meyers gave the Kraken life in the closing minutes of the first period, firing home a shot from the circle after Kulak lost the puck in the corner.

Seattle kept applying pressure in the second, tying the game with about six minutes to go in the period. Ryan Lindgren punched in a rebound after Skinner had saved Meyers at close range.

That goal brought back memories of the Penguins’ awful second period Saturday against Columbus that tilted the game in the visitors’ favor. But Kulak erased that narrative with a goal from just inside the blue line less than a minute later. It was the veteran defenseman’s first as a Penguin.

Justin Brazeau made it 4-2 early in the third period, rifling in a wrister following a breakout pass by Connor Clifton that Mantha carried into the Kraken zone. It was Brazeau’s 14th goal of the season and second in the past three games.

It became a nervy third period for the Penguins anyway after a power play goal from Eeli Tolvanen with about 12 minutes remaining. But after a series of goals from unheralded defensemen and bottom-six forwards, the top line came through. Rickard Rakell scored from close range with about three minutes remaining on a feed from Sidney Crosby.

Dewar scored his second of the game on the empty net to give him 11 goals on the season.

Skinner had his worst game since the holiday break but was still quite solid, stopping 20 of 23 shots. He made several key saves to the delight of the decent Penguins contingent at Climate Pledge Arena, who serenaded him with a more muted rendition of “STUUUU!” chants than he’s become accustomed to in Pittsburgh.

It was over when …

Rakell gave the Penguins some breathing room late in the third period.

Stat of the game

8-2-2: The Penguins’ record since the holiday break, matching their sizzling October mark.

Around the boards

— Crosby became the 45th player in NHL history to reach the 1,400-game mark Monday. He has the second-most points (1,741) through 1,400 games in league history, trailing only Wayne Gretzky. Crosby is fifth among active players in games played and has appeared in the 12th-most games in NHL history with one team.

— Ryan Graves returned to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 14. He cleared waivers after the Egor Chinakhov trade later that month but was called up Tuesday in the wake of Erik Karlsson’s injury. Graves formed a pairing with Connor Clifton. Jack St. Ivany was the lineup casualty, and Ryan Shea took his place alongside Wotherspoon.

— The Penguins were 2-5-2 all-time against the Kraken entering the game.

Up next

The Penguins continue their four-game road trip at Calgary on Wednesday. It’ll be a late one for Pittsburghers. Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET.

____

©2026 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.