Karlsson Scores Twice as Penguins Top Jets in Shootout

Rickard Rakell nets shootout winner as Pittsburgh defeats Winnipeg 5-4.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:18pm

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Erik Karlsson scored two goals for the second straight game, and Rickard Rakell scored the shootout clincher as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the visiting Winnipeg Jets 5-4 on Saturday afternoon.

Why it matters

The victory keeps the Penguins in the playoff hunt in the tight Eastern Conference race, while the Jets continue to struggle to gain ground in the Western Conference.

The details

Egor Chinakhov and Bryan Rust each had two assists for the Penguins, who improved to 35-18-16 on the season. Brad Lambert scored a goal and added an assist for the Jets, who fell to 28-29-12.

  • The Penguins opened the scoring just 1:06 into the first period.
  • Pittsburgh doubled its lead 56 seconds later.
  • Winnipeg tied the game 2-2 with a short-handed goal at the 13:51 mark of the second period.
  • Karlsson scored to make it 3-2 Penguins with 4:28 remaining in the second period.
  • Winnipeg's Pionk tied the game 3-3 at the 4:04 mark of the third period.

The players

Erik Karlsson

A defenseman for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals in the game.

Rickard Rakell

A forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored the shootout clincher.

Brad Lambert

A forward for the Winnipeg Jets who scored a goal and added an assist.

Connor Hellebuyck

The goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets who made 26 saves.

Arturs Silovs

The goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins who made 21 saves.

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What they’re saying

“We’ve been grinding it out and finding ways to win close games. That’s what it’s going to take to make the playoffs.”

— Erik Karlsson, Penguins Defenseman

“We had our chances, but just couldn’t find a way to get that extra goal when we needed it. Tough loss, but we’ll regroup and get ready for the next one.”

— Brad Lambert, Jets Forward

What’s next

The Penguins will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot, while the Jets will try to bounce back in their next game.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth game showcased the offensive firepower of both teams, with Karlsson and Rakell coming up big for the Penguins in the end. The result keeps Pittsburgh in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.