Ben Kindel delivered a memorable performance on his return to Vancouver on Sunday. He scored two goals to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena.
Playing in front of a large group of friends and family, the 18-year-old rookie, a Coquitlam native, made the most of the moment.
Kindel entered the game having gone 19 games without a goal, but ended the drought midway through the second period with a deft tip to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead.
He added his second goal about nine minutes later, unleashing a heavy shot that increased the Penguins’ advantage and drew a loud reaction from both his personal cheering section and the Vancouver crowd.
The victory completed a four-game undefeated Western road trip for Pittsburgh and improved the club’s record to 11-2-2 since the holiday break.
The Penguins led 3-0 at the second intermission before Vancouver pushed back with two goals in the third period.
With his two-goal night, Kindel now has 10 goals and 22 points in his first 48 NHL games, turning a quiet stretch into a notable homecoming.
