If you like quirky sports history, this is the moment for you.
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Ben Kindel has matched an oddly specific moment in the career of the legendary Sidney Crosby.
Kindel scored his first NHL goal on Saturday night, and we’ll let beat reporter Josh Yohe explain the significance further.
“Ben Kindel and Sidney Crosby both scored their first NHL goal in their third NHL game with Mike Sullivan as the visiting coach on a Saturday night in Pittsburgh,” wrote Yohe on X.
Sports often have the coolest, best kinds of synergy.
Kindel isn’t as highly regarded as Crosby, but he’s a big deal.
The Penguins took Kindel 11th overall in the 2025 draft as an 18-year old who most recently played for the Calgary Hitmen.
Through two games, Kindel didn’t yet have a point. He had played about 14 minutes per night and put three total shots on goal.
Kindel got on the board in game three.
Notably, he’s the first member of the 2025 NHL Draft class to score a goal.
The Penguins will be hoping it’s the first of many.
And if there’s any crossover with the rest of Crosby’s career, this could be the start of something magnificent in Pittsburgh.
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