Ben Kindel delivered a memorable performance in his return to Vancouver on Sunday, scoring two goals to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Canucks at Rogers Arena. The 18-year-old rookie, born and raised in Coquitlam, made the most of the moment with a large group of friends and family watching.
Kindel entered the game having gone without a goal for 19 games but broke his drought midway through the second period by deftly tipping the puck to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. He then added another goal nine minutes later, sending a heavy shot that further increased Pittsburgh’s advantage and eliciting boisterous applause from both his personal cheering section and the Vancouver crowd.
The victory marked an undefeated four-game Western road trip for the Penguins and improved their record to 11-2-2 since the holiday break. The team entered the second intermission with a 3-0 lead before Vancouver responded with two goals in the third period.
Kindel’s impressive performance resulted in him now having 10 goals and 22 points through his first 48 National Hockey League (NHL) games, turning a quiet stretch into a standout homecoming.