Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Seven points in last four games
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Rakell had a goal and two assists in a 7-3 win over Philadelphia on Monday.
He found twine at 11:53 of the first with a wrist shot from the slot after he'd had a goal overturned at the 7:14 mark. Rakell has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last four games and 29 points, including 16 snipes, in 36 games this season. At this rate, Rakell will challenge his career-best 69 points (34 goals, 35 assists) set back in 2017-18. He's a great veteran option for managers seeking a title this season.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Two more points in overtime win
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Rakell scored a goal on two shots, dished an assist, added two PIM and went plus-3 in Thursday's 5-4 overtime win over the Predators.
The top line of Rakell, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust accounted for four goals and 10 points in a stellar performance. This was Rakell's fourth multi-point effort in his last six games, a span in which he has recorded five goals and five assists. The 31-year-old is up to 15 goals -- matching his total from last year -- with 11 assists, 81 shots on net, 62 hits, 35 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating through 34 appearances this year. Rakell's career highs are 28 goals and 60 points in 2022-23, which is the only year he's played all 82 games. He could best both of those marks if he stays hot on Pittsburgh's top line.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Twelve points in last 10 games
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Rakell scored a goal and added an assist in a 3-2 overtime win over the Kings.
He tipped a shot from Erik Karlsson just under the crossbar at 1:44 of OT to seal the win. It was Rakell's team-leading 14th goal. He has 12 points, including seven goals, over his last 10 games. Rakell has shaken off last season's malaise, and he's helping make us all forget about that performance.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Pots two in win
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Rakell had a power-play goal, an even-strength tally, four shots on net and two assists in Thursday's 9-2 win over Montreal.
Rakell's first-period power-play tally was his third man-advantage goal of the season and second in the last three games. He was part of a big night for the Penguins' top line, which accounted for five goals and 11 points. In addition to Rakell's two tallies, Bryan Rust had three of his own. It was the second multi-goal effort of the season for Rakell, who has six tallies over his last 10 outings and leads the Penguins with 12 overall.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: One of each in Saturday's win
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Rakell scored a power-play goal on three shots, added an assist, logged two hits and blocked two shots in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs.
Rakell saw his four-game point streak snapped against the Rangers on Friday, but he bounced back quickly. This was his first multi-point effort since Nov. 5. The veteran winger is up to 11 goals, 18 points (four on the power play), 69 shots on net, 55 hits, 31 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating through 29 outings. He's leading the team in goals and should continue to function in a top-line role.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Reaches 10-goal mark
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Rakell scored a goal on two shots and blocked five shots in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Flames.
Rakell is on a scoring binge with four goals over his last six games. He's up to 10 tallies and 15 points this season, and just three of his points have come on the power play. Rakell has added 62 shots on net, 47 hits, 24 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating over 26 appearances, which is decent all-around production considering the Penguins' overall struggles in 2024-25.
Rakell scored a goal on four shots and added three hits in Friday's 2-1 win over the Bruins.
Sidney Crosby found Rakell just in time, as the 31-year-old tucked in the game-tying goal with less than a second left in the middle frame. This was Rakell's third goal in the last five contests, a sign he could be heating up after a recent six-game point drought. For the season, he has nine tallies, five assists, 60 shots on net, 47 hits, 19 blocked shots and a plus-1 rating over 25 appearances.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Pots goal Wednesday
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Rakell found the back of the net on his only shot and went plus-2 in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Canucks.
Rakell scored his eighth goal of the season at 12:53 of the first period to Pittsburgh up 2-1. The right-shot winger has scored twice but hasn't recorded an assist over his last 10 games, yet he ranks fourth on the Penguins in scoring. Rakell has provided eight markers and five helpers over 24 contests, and he'll aim to close out November in a strong way with a back-to-back set looming against Boston and Calgary on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Rakell scored a power-play goal Tuesday in a 3-2 OT loss to the Lightning.
Rakell dropped to one knee for a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Sidney Crosby. The marker ended a nine-game goal drought and six-game point slump. Rakell is a complementary depth fantasy play who could find himself in another uniform before the deadline. Beware that move -- the winger is in the best fantasy position of his career, and he certainly won't skate with Sid-lite in another city.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Two apples in loss
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Rakell chipped in two secondary assists, one of which came on the man advantage, in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders.
Rakell's pair of assists came in the second period of Tuesday's defeat. The Swedish winger has picked up at least one point in four of his last five games, and he's only been held off the scoresheet five times through 14 games this season. Rakell is thriving in a top-line role and spot on the No. 1 power-play unit -- the 31-year-old is up to six goals, five assists and a plus-5 rating while averaging 17:33 of ice time over 14 appearances.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Nets two goals Tuesday
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Rakell scored two goals and took five shots in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Wild.
Rakell found the back of the net in the first and third period, but his efforts were not enough to prevent a sixth straight defeat for Pittsburgh. The 31-year-old center has recorded points in seven of his last nine appearances, though this was his first multi-point game of the season.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Secures assist in loss
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Rakell notched an assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks.
Rakell's touch-pass in the neutral zone set up Evgeni Malkin for a third-period tally. Through 10 appearances, Rakell has four goals, two assists, 22 shots on net, 15 hits and 10 blocked shots. He started the game on Sidney Crosby's line but moved back with Malkin after Bryan Rust (lower body) left the game with an injury. Rakell can be streaky, but he's been fairly solid to begin 2024-25.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Comes up clutch Wednesday
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Rakell scored a goal on three shots in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime win over the Sabres.
Rakell has scored in three straight games. He tallied in the final minute of regulation Wednesday, paving the way for Sidney Crosby's game-winning goal in overtime. Rakell has added 10 shots on net, six hits and a plus-3 rating over five appearances this season while playing consistently on the second line.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Goals in two straight
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Rakell scored a goal on three shots on net, blocked three shots and meted out one hit in Monday's 6-3 win over Montreal.
Rakell one-timed a feed from Evgeni Malkin behind the net, beating Sam Montembeault stick side. It was the second goal in as many games for Rakell, who was set up by Malkin in Saturday's loss to the Maple Leafs.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Buries goal in loss
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Rakell scored a goal on two shots in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Maple Leafs.
Rakell scored in the third period to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the Penguins couldn't tie it up. Head coach Mike Sullivan has shuffled wingers all around his top six, but Rakell looks set to stick alongside Evgeni Malkin on the second line. Rakell has a goal, four shots and four hits through three contests this season, and he is notoriously streaky on offense, which could give his fantasy managers some heartburn throughout 2024-25.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Scores goal in loss
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Rakell potted Pittsburgh's lone goal in Tuesday's 2-1 exhibition loss to the Red Wings.
Rakell is entering his third full season with the Penguins. The Swedish forward is expected to skate on Evgeni Malkin's right wing while also receiving time on the power play. Rakell has amassed 449 points in 721 regular-season games throughout his 12-year NHL career.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Scores goal Wednesday
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Rakell scored a goal on three shots in Wednesday's season-finale loss to the Islanders.
Rakell was much maligned for most of the season due to his lack of offensive production but seems to have benefitted from teaming up with Michael Bunting. In 21 post-deadline outings, the 30-year-old Rakell garnered six goals and four assists. Despite the late surge, Rakell still missed the 40-point threshold for just the second time over his last nine seasons.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Offers helper Saturday
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Rakell notched an assist in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Bruins.
Rakell is warm with three goals and three assists over his last eight contests. That increase in production has earned him a larger role in recent games. The streaky winger is at 36 points, 161 shots on goal, 109 hits and a plus-4 rating through 68 appearances this season, playing mainly on the second line.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Scores in loss
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Rakell scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.
Rakell opened the scoring late in the first period, beating Ilya Samsonov with a turnaround wrister to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. The 30-year-old Rakell has three goals over his last six contests after scoring just twice in his previous 12 games. He's up to 14 goals and 33 points through 66 games this year.
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Penguins' Rickard Rakell: Tallies in win
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Rakell scored a goal on his lone shot in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Sharks.
Rakell extended Pittsburgh's lead to 5-3 early in the third period, deflecting a John Ludvig shot past Magnus Chrona to snap a four-game scoring drought. The 30-year-old Rakell came into the contest with just one goal and two points in his previous eight games, though he should continue to see time in the Pens' top six following Jake Guentzel's trade to Carolina. Rakell is up to 10 goals and 18 points in 53 games this season after tallying 60 points in the 2022-23 campaign.
