Penguins finally win shootout, prevailing over Jets as Erik Karlsson scores twice

PITTSBURGH — Mired in a tight playoff race with a challenging stretch of opponents looming, the Penguins could ill-afford a loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.

It looked like they were headed for one. But Erik Karlsson rescued Pittsburgh with a third-period equalizer, his second goal of the game. And the Penguins finally prevailed in a shootout to pick up a 5-4 victory at PPG Paints Arena.

Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh. Arturs Silovs stopped both attempts he faced.

Entering Saturday’s matinee matchup, the Penguins went two days without a game for the only time in March.

They looked well-rested. About a minute into the game, Evgeni Malkin chipped the puck to Egor Chinakhov flying into the Jets’ zone. Chinakhov made a nasty move to get around Dylan DeMelo and whipped a shot past Connor Hellebuyck for the opening goal.

It took Team Canada 38:16 to score on Hellebuyck in the Olympic gold medal game. It took Chinakhov 1:06.

And less than a minute later, the Penguins surpassed Canada’s scoring total in that game. Bryan Rust took the puck from DeMelo at the Jets’ blue line, drove the net and dished to Rickard Rakell, who deftly tipped a shot past Hellebuyck for a 2-0 Pittsburgh lead.

But Winnipeg answered to continue the wild opening flurry. Brad Lambert blocked Parker Wotherspoon’s shot from the point and had a near breakaway opportunity. Arturs Silovs stopped Lambert’s initial attempt. Morgan Barron crashed into Karlsson in front of the net, and Karlsson knocked Silovs to the ice.

Amid that melee, the puck popped into the net. Penguins coach Dan Muse challenged for goalie interference — and was once again unsuccessful. He’s now 0-8 on goalie interference challenges this season.

Pittsburgh’s penalty kill fought off the ensuing Jets power play. But after the rest of the first period unfolded without another goal, the Penguins’ power play continues its struggles with surrendering short-handed chances.

With Pittsburgh on a power play about six minutes into the second period, the puck popped to Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry. He and Cole Koepke raced out on a short-handed 2-on-1 opportunity. Koepke made a beautiful move to score on Silovs and tie the game.

It was the 11th short-handed goal allowed by the Penguins this season, second most in the NHL.

Silovs had to make some big saves to prevent his team from falling behind for the first time in the ensuing moments. And then Karlsson continued his scintillating streak.

Already leading NHL defensemen in scoring since the Olympic break, Karlsson fired in his fourth goal in the past three games to give the Penguins the lead again with about five minutes remaining in the second period.

Things got scary for the Penguins in the opening minutes of the third.

Neal Pionk rifled in a goal from the point to tie the game four minutes into the period. And 34 seconds later, it appeared that Mark Scheifele had scored to give Winnipeg its first lead. But Muse called a timeout and successfully challenged for a puck being played with a high stick earlier in the play. The goal was waved off.

But the Jets would grab the lead anyway, not too long after. Lambert skated into the Pittsburgh zone and scored from the high slot amid pressure from multiple Penguins.

The nervous energy inside the arena was palpable. Then Karlsson gave the packed crowd something to celebrate again. He scored his second of the game, this time from the right faceoff circle, to tie the game with about seven minutes to play.

The Penguins peppered Hellebuyck in the 3-on-3 overtime period, but he made some saves reminiscent of his Olympic performance — especially his stop on Ben Kindel in tight.

It was over when …

Rickard Rakell scored on a slow approach to give the Penguins their second shootout victory of the season.

Stat of the game

— 2-10: The Penguins’ shootout record this season after finally picking up a win.

Around the boards

— Rookie winger Avery Hayes was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Thursday. He had been scratched in the final two games of the Penguins’ road trip.

— Defenseman Ryan Graves was recalled from his conditioning loan to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Thursday. He last played for the NHL club Jan. 21.

— Defenseman Sam Girard returned from a five-game absence with an upper-body injury, rejoining Kris Letang in a blue-line pairing. Ryan Shea and Connor Clifton became the Penguins’ third pairing.

— Rust played his 700th NHL game Saturday. He’s spent his entire career in Pittsburgh.

— The Penguins announced Saturday that they have signed goalie Gabriel D’Aigle to a three-year entry-level contract. They picked him in the third round of the 2025 NHL draft. He’s registered a .908 save percentage while facing more than 37 shots per game with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL.

Up next

The Penguins play the second leg of a three-game homestand 3 p.m. Sunday at PPG Paints Arena against the Carolina Hurricanes. It will be the third meeting between the Metropolitan Division rivals in less than two weeks.