OTTAWA — Ben Kindel scored the shootout winner to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators Thursday night.
The win allowed the Penguins (36-20-16) to maintain their hold on third in the Metropolitan Division, while the Senators (38-25-9) dropped out of playoff contention.
Both Linus Ullmark and Stuart Skinner made huge saves in overtime to force the shootout.
After the game, Ullmark voiced his criticism of shootouts deciding games.
“I’ve always hated shootouts,” Ullmark said. “I’ve been a big advocate of playing 10 minutes instead. And if there’s no winner, you just go one point each. You go from there. You’re tossing a coin, sometimes, or have a bit of a circus act.
“Guys have been battling for 65 minutes, really hard, long season. I think there’s a better way of deciding who’s going to be the winner and who’s not.”
Pittsburgh opened the third period on the power play with a two-man advantage after Ottawa was called for too many men. The Penguins capitalized with Rickard Rakell scoring his second of the game at 1:43.
Just over two minutes later, the Senators tied the game with Drake Batherson burying a rebound in the crease for his second of the game. Pittsburgh challenged for goaltender interference but was unsuccessful.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby took the opening shift of the second period but left after 38 seconds and did not return.
Ottawa took a 2-1 lead 1:50 into the second. A Nick Cousins pass down low went off Samuel Girard’s skate putting the puck back on Cousins’ stick for a quick backhand at the goal line.
The Penguins made it 2-2 less than two minutes later when Erik Karlsson whipped a shot past a screened Ullmark, who made 35 saves.
The teams exchanged first-period goals.
Brady Tkachuk made a cross-ice pass to Batherson who wristed a shot behind Skinner, who stopped 26 shots, on the power play at 4:28.
Pittsburgh tied the game at 13:46 when Tyler Kleven’s clearing attempt was kept in by Karlsson. Karlsson fed Rakell in the high slot and he beat Ullmark stick side.
Ottawa defenceman Thomas Chabot underwent surgery on his forearm Thursday and will miss four to eight weeks, while Dennis Gilbert is expected to be out three weeks. Jake Sanderson and Lassi Thomson are skating and will join the Senators on their trip through Florida.
Takeaways
Senators: Ottawa managed to take advantage of some defensive breakdowns down low by the Penguins scoring twice from near identical areas.
Penguins: Pittsburgh took advantage of Ottawa’s depleted defence corps and was able to generate numerous chances.
Key moment
Skinner robbed Tim Stutzle in overtime while Ullmark made a huge save on Thomas Novak.
Key stat
With an assist on the opening goal, Stutzle picked up his 400th point and became the seventh player, and youngest, in franchise history to hit the milestone.
Up next
Senators: Visit the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
Penguins: Host the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
— With files from Sportsnet Staff
