Rickard Rakell's OT goal pushes Penguins, winners of 7 of last 10, beat Kings

December 17, 2024 Last Updated: December 17, 2024 10:06 PM Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Grzelcyk (24) returns to the bench after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. The Penguins won 3-2 in overtime. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Los Angeles Kings' Adrian Kempe, second from left, celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Los Angeles Kings' Alex Turcotte (15) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang (58) defends against Los Angeles Kings' Adrian Kempe (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) looks to pass in front of Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) deflects a shot by Michael Bunting, right, past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Blake Lizotte (46) is defended by Los Angeles Kings' Phillip Danault (24) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) blocks a shot with Vladislav Gavrikov (84) defending Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, left, deflects a shot with Mikey Anderson, right rear, defending Pittsburgh Penguins' Philip Tomasino (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell, left, celebrates his game-winning goal with Erik Karlsson (65) in overtime Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings in Pittsburgh. Associated Press

Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Grzelcyk (24) returns to the bench after scoring during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. The Penguins won 3-2 in overtime. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Kings' Adrian Kempe, second from left, celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Kings' Alex Turcotte (15) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang (58) defends against Los Angeles Kings' Adrian Kempe (9) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) looks to pass in front of Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) deflects a shot by Michael Bunting, right, past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) for a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Blake Lizotte (46) is defended by Los Angeles Kings' Phillip Danault (24) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) blocks a shot with Vladislav Gavrikov (84) defending Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, left, deflects a shot with Mikey Anderson, right rear, defending Pittsburgh Penguins' Philip Tomasino (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, left, deflects a shot with Mikey Anderson, right rear, defending Pittsburgh Penguins' Philip Tomasino (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell, left, celebrates his game-winning goal with Erik Karlsson (65) in overtime Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings in Pittsburgh. Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — Rickard Rakell scored 1:44 into overtime, and the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied to beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 Tuesday night.

Rakell deflected Erik Karlsson’s point shot behind Darcy Kuemper for the game-winner.

Evgeni Malkin scored, while Matt Grzelcyk forced overtime with 5:35 left in the third period with his first goal as a Penguin. Michael Bunting had two assists in his 300th NHL game.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 29 saves.

Adrian Kempe scored 33 seconds into the game for Los Angeles, and Alex Turcotte also scored. Vladislav Gavrikov added two assists.

Kuemper stopped 28 shots.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell, left, celebrates his game-winning goal with Erik Karlsson (65) in overtime Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings in Pittsburgh. Associated Press

Takeaways

Pittsburgh has won seven of its last 10. It lost eight of 10 before its current 10-game run.

Key moment

In the third period, Sidney Crosby sent a cross-ice pass to Grzelcyk, who ripped a wrist shot behind Kuemper to tie the game and force overtime.

Key stat

The Penguins are 12-3-2 in games where they score at least three goals. Pittsburgh has points in eight of its last 10 home games against Los Angeles dating back to Oct. 30, 2014.

Up next

Pittsburgh is at Nashville on Thursday.