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The 192-person moment that unlocked Ben Kindel for the Penguins
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Ben Kindel scored twice in Vancouver, and the Pittsburgh Penguins felt every cheer in the building.
This was the rookie's homecoming, and it hit different.
He grew up in nearby Coquitlam, British Columbia, and his people showed up in force.
The count was wild, 192 friends and family in the stands.
Kindel basically said it out loud, he made it here with them, not alone.
"Lots of people that have been part of my life for a long time and have helped me make it here. So, it's great. It's about them just as much as it is myself."
- Ben Kindel
- Ben Kindel
On the ice, he ended a 19-game goal drought at the perfect time.
Pittsburgh beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 at Rogers Arena on Sunday.
Evgeni Malkin scored again, and Stuart Skinner stopped 30 to hold the line late.
Ben Kindel gives Pittsburgh Penguins a road-trip jolt
Penguins fans have been waiting for this kind of moment, the "kid line" hype finally gets a postcard game to match it.
Kindel's first goal came on a redirection at the top of the crease.
The second was a one-timer that pushed it to 3-0, pure release, no hesitation.
It mattered because he hadn't scored since December 14, and you could feel the weight lift.
For context, he's 18, drafted in 2025, Round 1, 11th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Pittsburgh is now 26-14-11, four straight wins, and a clean sweep of the western Canada trip.
Now the trick is simple, keep him in the middle, keep trusting the details, and let the scoring come and go without yanking the leash.
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 26|220 ANSWERS The 192-person moment that unlocked Ben Kindel for the Penguins Should Ben Kindel stay in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup full-time? | ||
| Yes | 203 | 92.3 % |
| No | 17 | 7.7 % |
| List of polls | ||