News

Brett Kulak’s 1st goal of the season helps the Penguins beat the Kraken 6-3

Brett Kulak’s 1st goal of the season helps the Penguins beat the Kraken 6-3

Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust, second from left, celebrates with defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, center Sidney Crosby, and right wing Rickard Rakell, from left, after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) Photo: Associated Press


SEATTLE (AP) — Brett Kulak broke a second-period tie with his first goal of the season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Seattle Kraken 6-3 on Monday.

Kulak, acquired from Edmonton in December as part of the trade for goalie Tristan Jarry, scored for the first time since last year’s Western Conference final. The defenseman ripped a one-timer to give the Penguins a 3-2 lead with 5:15 left in the second.

Several other unlikely offensive contributors chipped in for the Penguins (23-14-11). Fellow defenseman Parker Witherspoon got the scoring started with a wrister from the point that slid past Seattle goalie Joey Daccord for his third of the season.

Pittsburgh center Connor Dewar scored short-handed in the first period and added an empty-net goal with 29.6 seconds remaining. Dewar’s first goal marked the third straight game the Kraken (21-18-9) have yielded a short-handed goal.

After falling behind 2-0, the Kraken tied it on goals from forward Ben Meyers and defenseman Ryan Lindgren. Meyers’ goal was his career-high fifth of the season. Eeli Tolvanen also scored for Seattle, which has lost four straight and six of seven.

Justin Brazeau scored early in the third for the Penguins to make it 4-2. Rickard Rakell added an insurance goal before Dewar’s empty-netter. Pittsburgh won for the second time in three games following a three-game skid.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had two assists in his 1,400th career game. Stuart Skinner stopped 20 shots.

Daccord made 26 saves for Seattle.

Up next

Penguins: At the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.

Kraken: Host the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.

Recent Headlines

21 hours ago in Community Events, Entertainment, Features, Lifestyle, Local, Northwest Sports, Photos, Professional, Sports, The Zone

PHOTOS: The Ultimate 12’s Rally at Civic Field in Bellingham

Fans gathered at Civic Field on Feb. 6 for an all-out rally in support of the Seattle Seahawks playing in this year's Super Bowl. 

1 day ago in Sports

Lindor, Correa off Puerto Rico’s WBC roster over insurance coverage, Báez for marijuana test

Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa were left off Puerto Rico's roster for the World Baseball Classic over insurance coverage and Javy Báez for a positive 2023 marijuana test, while defending champion Japan entered a top group Thursday led by World Series champions Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

1 day ago in Sports

Matthew Stafford edges Drake Maye for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award

Matthew Stafford walked away with the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award and a declaration that he's returning to the Los Angeles Rams for another season.

1 day ago in Olympics, Sports, Trending

The Milan Cortina Olympics will start with a four-site and two-cauldron opening ceremony

An unprecedented four-site, dual-cauldron Winter Olympics opening ceremony replete with references to Italian icons and culture — plus American pop diva Mariah Carey — was scheduled to officially start the Milan Cortina Games on Friday as the sports spectacle returns to a nation that last hosted the event 20 years ago.

1 day ago in Olympics, Sports

Lindsey Vonn tests injured left knee in Olympic downhill training, pumps fist after successful run

A week after rupturing the ACL in her left knee, Lindsey Vonn opened her chase for Olympic gold at the age of 41 with an aggressive and successful downhill training run on Friday — two days before the race.

Bellingham Traffic