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The last two games quietly changed Ben Kindel’s Penguins reality
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Ben Kindel is scoring again for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and those rookie goals are wiping out a monthlong drought in real time.
Sunday in Vancouver, Kindel snapped his skid the loud way, two goals in the second period.
It mattered because the drought was getting heavy.
He had gone 20 straight games without a goal after scoring eight in his first 28.
The kid did not hide from it, he kept shooting and kept going to the hard ice.
Here’s the post making the rounds.
One of those Vancouver goals came as a redirection off a Ryan Shea point shot, pure net-front details.
The other was a clean release from the faceoff circle, the kind of shot that travels before the goalie sets.
Then Thursday at home, he followed it up with a goal and an assist in a 6-2 win over Chicago.
That is three points in two games, and the Penguins suddenly have another line driving play.
Ben Kindel gives the Pittsburgh Penguins real scoring depth
Pens fans have been begging for a young forward who actually finishes, not just "plays the right way," and this little burst feels like a release valve.
Kindel is 18, drafted in 2025, first round, 11th overall by Pittsburgh, and the confidence swings are part of the deal.
Before Thursday, he sat at 10-12-22 in 48 games.
Add the Chicago goal and helper, and he’s up to 11-13-24 through 49.
It also ties into roster math, because his three-year entry-level contract is already burning.
If he’s producing, you live with the rookie wobbles and keep him in your top-nine.
Now the next test is simple: can Kindel keep getting inside sticks when teams start keying on him?
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| POLL | ||
JANVIER 30|137 ANSWERS The last two games quietly changed Ben Kindel’s Penguins reality Should Ben Kindel stay in the Penguins top-six right now? | ||
| Yes | 131 | 95.6 % |
| No | 6 | 4.4 % |
| List of polls | ||