LOS ANGELES — The Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-0) have given away their 2-0 start with a pair of losses just as they gave away a two-goal lead Tuesday in a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Now the Penguins need to rebound against a stingy, heavy LA Kings (1-2-1) at Crypto.com Arena.
Pour a stiff coffee, the puck will drop just after 10 p.m. ET.
The Penguins scored just over one minute into the game Tuesday when Justin Brazeau deflected Ryan Shea’s buttery floater past Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal at 1:03. Shea earned a second assist six minutes later when Rickard Rakell did the same.
However, the Ducks’ power play was exceptional. It backed in, nay, caved in the Penguins’ penalty kill and notched a pair of goals, including a late PPG that decided the game.
Penguins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon was kicking himself following the game. It was his errant clearing attempt late in the third period that sailed over the glass, earning the fateful delay of game penalty.
Anthony Mantha scored the third Penguins goal. Tristan Jarry stopped 18 of 22 shots in the loss.
Rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke was a healthy scratch in a preplanned rest. Coach Dan Muse indicated that rookie center Ben Kindel might also sit in the near future.
If Kindel sits, the Penguins’ lines could become jumbled as Muse tasks first-line winger Rickard Rakell with the third-line center role.
Caleb Jones was also a scratch as Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba were in the lineup.
On Wednesday, the LA Kings reacquired goalie Pheonix Copley via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had claimed Copley off waivers from the Kings two weeks ago.
LA rallied from a 3-0 third period deficit Monday to force a shootout with the Minnesota Wild, but lost 4-3 in the skills competition.
Adrian Kempe, Quinton Byfield, and Kevin Fiala scored for LA. And goalie Darcy Kuemper stopped 23 of 26 before losing in the shootout.
The Penguins have a morning skate at 2 p.m. ET following a day off on Wednesday. PHN will update the lines and goalie if possible available.
How to Watch
TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Radio: 105.9 The X
Possible Penguins Lines (UPDATED)
Rickard Rakell-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha-Evgeni Malkin-Justin Brazeau
Filip Hallander-Tommy Novak-Philip Tomasino
Connor Dewar-Blake Lizotte-Noel Acciari
Defense
Parker Wotherspoon-Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea-Kris Letang
Caleb Jones-Harrison Brunicke
Goalie: TBD (Arturs Silovs expected)
Expected Kings Lines
Andrei Kuzmenko-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala-Quinton Byfield-Joel Armia
Warren Foegele-Philip Danault-Trevor Moore
Jeff Malott-Alex Turocotte-Alex Laferriere
Defense
Brian Dumoulin-Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson-Brandt Clarke
Mikey Anderson-Cody Ceci
Goalie: Darcy Kuemper, expected
Special Teams
Penguins’ power play: 18.2%, 16th. Penguins penalty kill: 73.3%, 23rd.
Kings power play: 23.1%, 9th. Kings penalty kill: 68.2%, 27th.
Penguins Game Notes
The Penguins are 5-2-1 in their last eight games against Western Conference
opponents.
Evgeni Malkin has more game-winning goals (4) against the Los Angeles
Kings than any active Eastern Conference player.
Malkin has six assists in four games this season.
Sidney Crosby notched his 495th career multi-point performance on Tuesday. He is two shy of tying Mario Lemieux for the all-time franchise record.
Justin Brazeau’s four goals are tied for second in the NHL, behind Vegas Golden Knights winger Pavel Dorofeyev.
Ryan Shea has already tied his career best assists total (3) and leads the team with eight blocked shots.
In 35 career games against the Los Angeles Kings, Erik Karlsson has scored four goals, 29 assists, and 33 points.
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Categorized: Penguins Pregame