Matt Murray, who made 30 saves for the Penguins, has won seven straight starts since allowing 11 goals on 65 shots in his first two games this season. He has allowed one goal each of his past two starts.
Connor Hellebuyck was left frustrated with his inability to stop Kessel's last shot despite making 34 saves for Winnipeg (4-3-1).
"I have to have that save in overtime. I don't know what I'm thinking," Hellebuyck said. "I almost read it too well. I knew he was going to go five-hole. I'm thinking I'll kick it out, but that's not goaltending. I need to just drop to my butterfly and just make the save like I've been working on all summer, just getting that quick butterfly. So, I overthought it."
Pittsburgh (7-3-1) has won 17 straight home games against the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise since March 24, 2007. The Penguins are 7-2-0 in their past nine games after beginning the season 0-1-1.
Conor Sheary gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead 1:25 into the first period. He entered the Winnipeg zone with Jake Guentzel, who carried the puck through the neutral zone. Guentzel slipped a pass through Tyler Myers that Sheary tipped through Hellebuyck's five-hole for his fifth goal of the season.
Penguins defenseman Kris Letang inadvertently helped erase that lead when Josh Morrissey tied it 1-1 at 9:26 of the first. Bryan Little won a faceoff back to Morrissey, who sent a wrist shot past Bryan Rust and Riley Sheahan before Letang tipped it past Murray and into the right corner of the net.
The Jets came close to taking the lead twice late in the second period.
Tyler Myers had the first chance when he skated toward Murray and deked left to right, but he was denied by Murray's toe save with 2:50 remaining in the second period. Murray then made a stick save on a Patrik Laine one-timer from just outside the crease 32 seconds later.
