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Ben Kindel on Sidney Crosby's absence frames Penguins response in 5-0 Vegas win
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
PensInsideScoop on X quotes Ben Kindel after the Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-0 Vegas win, and the Sidney Crosby injury test just got louder.
Kindel didn't sugarcoat it. He called Crosby "our best player," then pointed to the room stepping up anyway.
Sunday's shutout felt like a reset button, not a lucky night. Pittsburgh drove play, stayed out of chaos, and buried on the man advantage.
Arturs Silovs did his part between the pipes, turning aside 22 shots for a 5-0 final.
The Penguins are now 31-15-13, and they've taken points in five straight.
"Obviously, Sid is our best player and the biggest part of our team. But with that, guys will still step up, and that's what we've done throughout the year. It's a testament to the group we have in here."
- Ben Kindel
- Ben Kindel
Kindel's own night mattered too. The 18-year-old, drafted in 2025, 11th overall by Pittsburgh, scored the opener by attacking the slot with speed.
That direct north game is exactly what helps when your top center is missing. It forces defenders to back off, and it buys your other lines more space.
Ben Kindel keeps the Pittsburgh Penguins breathing
If you're a Penguins fan, you're torn between "this rules" and "please just get Crosby back healthy," because we've seen hot stretches vanish fast in March.
Crosby is on injured reserve after a lower-body injury at the Olympics, and reports say he's out at least four weeks.
Before he went down, he was still carrying weight with 27-32-59 in 56 games.
So the formula has to be committee offense. Rust hit 20 goals again, Rakell cashed in on the power play, and Erik Karlsson kept the puck moving.
The real tell is structural. Pittsburgh won special-teams minutes and didn't crack when Vegas pushed early.
Now it's about doing it again, not once. The next game is the next truth test, and the trade deadline week pressure is right there with it.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Pittsburgh Penguins lead NHL in trades as Kyle Dubas eyes more before Friday deadline
Pittsburgh Penguins lead NHL in trades as Kyle Dubas eyes more before Friday deadline
| POLL | ||
MARS 2|183 ANSWERS Ben Kindel on Sidney Crosby's absence frames Penguins response in 5-0 Vegas win Should Ben Kindel stay in the Penguins top-six while Sidney Crosby is out? | ||
| Yes | 175 | 95.6 % |
| No | 8 | 4.4 % |
| List of polls | ||