Penguins best Red Wings in overtime on Kris Letang's game-winner

King Jemison, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan 1, 2026

Published in Hockey

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PITTSBURGH — Thursday was going to be a big night for Kris Letang regardless of the result, but he made it extra special.

On his 1,200th NHL game, the veteran defenseman scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Penguins beat the Red Wings, 4-3, at PPG Paints Arena.

It was Pittsburgh’s third straight win coming out of the holiday break.

The game ended on a Sidney Crosby assist to his longtime teammate. It started with a Crosby explosion.

The Penguins captain scored two goals in a span of less than two minutes, rifling a slap shot past Cam Talbot on the power play four minutes into the game. Then 1:38 later, he intercepted an errant Red Wings’ pass and drove to the net for his 23rd goal of the season — putting him comfortably inside the top 10 in the NHL at 38 years old.

Anthony Mantha registered his sixth point in the past four games with an assist on Crosby’s first goal. Erik Karlsson’s assist on the play brought him to 899 career points.

He would nab his 900th on the Penguins’ go-ahead goal with just over four minutes to play. Karlsson’s shot rebounded into the crease, where Blake Lizotte fired it toward the goal. It bounced off a Red Wings player and into the net for a 3-2 Penguins lead.

Like many third-period leads for the Penguins, it didn’t last long.

Jack St. Ivany was whistled for a penalty just more than 20 seconds later, and Detroit scored on the ensuing power play — a Lucas Raymond pass bounced off the boards and right to Alex DeBrincat, who beat a diving Arturs Silovs.

The Penguins started the game with excellent energy and carried play en route to a 2-0 lead early in the first period. But that momentum was quelled by a rash of penalties.

Pittsburgh spent half of the first period short-handed thanks to four penalties including a high-sticking double-minor to Tommy Novak.

They killed the first three in fairly easy fashion but couldn’t stop the fourth, as James van Riemsdyk tipped a shot past Silovs.

The Penguins ultimately surrendered 16 penalty minutes to just six for Detroit.

Detroit tied the game less than a minute into the second period on an unlucky bounce for the Penguins that Silovs likely misplayed.

The Red Wings dumped the puck along the boards, and the goalie went behind his net to collect it. But instead of rimming around the boards, it caromed off them and directly to Andrew Copp who scored on the essentially empty net.

Silovs played well overall, making 24 saves. He probably won’t be happy with the boards behind him that assisted two Red Wings goals.

It was over when …

Letang rifled home an overtime goal to improve Pittsburgh’s record in overtime games to 3-9.

Stat of the game

3 points for Sidney Crosby, who continues his incredible season.

Around the boards

—Yegor Chinakhov made his Penguins debut, skating on the third line alongside Ben Kindel and Rutger McGroarty. Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas acquired the 24-year-old winger Monday in a trade with Columbus.

—Forward Evgeni Malkin missed his 13th consecutive game with an upper-body injury. He has been skating before practice, but Penguins coach Dan Muse said Thursday his status has not changed. The team designated him as week-to-week Dec. 9.

—Letang became the 40th defenseman in league history to reach the 1200-game mark (and the third active, joining Brent Burns and Drew Doughty).

—The Red Wings were coming off an 11-3-1 December. Those 23 points were second only to the Avalanche in the month.

—Detroit beat Winnipeg at home Wednesday — meaning for the third straight game, the Penguins got to play a team on the second night of a back-to-back while they did not play the previous day. They should send a thank-you card to the NHL schedule-makers.

Up next

The Penguins will practice Friday in Cranberry before traveling to Detroit for the second game of the home-and-home series at noon Saturday, with ABC carrying the broadcast.