Penguins Seek Redemption Against Kraken in Seattle Showdown

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Pittsburgh Penguins aim to break a two-game losing streak as they face the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 PM ET, with the game broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh, ESPN+, and radio coverage on 105.9 the X and the Penguins app.

The Penguins (20-22-8) enter the matchup with a 1-2-0 record at Climate Pledge Arena and are 6-3-0 in their last nine games against Western Conference opponents. Meanwhile, the Kraken (21-25-3) look to capitalize on home ice as both teams vie for crucial points in the playoff race.

Pittsburgh continues its season-long seven-game road trip, the team’s longest since an eight-game stretch in 1997. The Penguins are 2-2-0 so far on the trip, which spans 15 days. Bryan Rust, who sustained a lower-body injury in Thursday’s loss to Anaheim, did not practice Friday and is listed as day-to-day. Rust, second on the team with 19 goals, is one shy of his sixth 20-goal season, a milestone achieved by only eight other players in franchise history.

Forward Matt Nieto is set to play his 700th career NHL game. The Long Beach, California, native has spent parts of 12 seasons with the Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, and San Jose Sharks. Nieto ranks fourth in points among active California-born players and fifth all-time.

Michael Bunting scored Pittsburgh’s lone goal in Thursday’s loss, marking his team-leading ninth power-play goal of the season. His next power-play tally will make him the seventh Penguin in the last decade to reach 10-plus power-play goals in a season.

Sidney Crosby enters the game one point shy of surpassing Hall-of-Famer Joe Sakic for sole possession of the 10th-most road points in NHL history. Kevin Hayes has also been productive, tallying five points (4G-1A) in 11 games since returning to the lineup on January 3.

Quick Hits: Blake Lizotte has six career points (1G-5A) in 11 games against Seattle, while Michael Bunting has six points (1G-5A) in seven career games against the Kraken. Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is one point away from tying his career high of 26 points, set in 2022-23 with Boston. The Penguins rank fifth in the NHL in power-play percentage (27.3%) and have converted 5 of 10 opportunities (50.0%) on their current road trip.

When both Crosby and Evgeni Malkin record a point in a game, the Penguins boast an impressive 399-90-49 record. Pittsburgh will look to leverage this dynamic duo as they seek redemption in Seattle.