Rickard Rakell's OT goal pushes Penguins past Kings 3-2
Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell, left, celebrates his game-winning goal with Erik Karlsson (65), in the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. The Penguins won 3-2. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
PITTSBURGH — Rickard Rakell scored at 1:44 of overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Rakell deflected Erik Karlsson’s point shot behind Darcy Kuemper for the game-winner.
Evgeni Malkin scored, while Matt Grzelcyk forced overtime with 5:35 left in the third period with his first goal as a Penguin. Michael Bunting had two assists in his 300th NHL game.
Alex Nedeljkovic made 29 saves.
Adrian Kempe scored 33 seconds into the game for Los Angeles, and Alex Turcotte also scored. Vladislav Gavrikov added two assists.
Kuemper stopped 28 shots.
Takeaways
Kings: Los Angeles has lost two of three following a six-game winning streak.
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, left, deflects a shot with Mikey Anderson, right rear, defending Pittsburgh Penguins' Philip Tomasino (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
Penguins: Pittsburgh has won seven of their last 10. Pittsburgh lost eight of 10 before its current 10-game run.
Key moment
In the third period, Sidney Crosby sent a cross-ice pass to Grzelcyk, who ripped a wrist shot behind Kuemper to tie the game and force overtime.
Key stat
The Penguins are 12-3-2 in games where they score at least three goals. Pittsburgh has points in eight of its last 10 home games against Los Angeles dating back to Oct. 30, 2014.
Up next
Both teams are away on Thursday. Pittsburgh is at Nashville, while Los Angeles continues a season-long, seven-game, 15-day road trip.
