LOS ANGELES — The Pittsburgh Penguins achieved a commanding 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night, ending the Kings’ impressive nine-game home winning streak.
Key players for the Penguins included Sidney Crosby, who along with teammates Anthony Beauvillier and Kevin Hayes, each contributed a goal and an assist. Cody Glass also found the back of the net for Pittsburgh, while goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic stood strong in net, making 25 saves. Adrian Kempe was the sole scorer for Los Angeles, with David Rittich recording 27 saves.
Crosby reached a significant milestone early in the game, collecting his 50th point of the season just 14:09 into the opening period. He redirected a shot from Matthew Grzelcyk past Rittich, establishing a 2-0 lead. This achievement marks Crosby as the 11th player in NHL history to accumulate at least 50 points in 18 or more seasons.
Evgeni Malkin extended the Penguins’ lead to 3-0 in the second period with a swift wrist shot from close range. This goal was notable as it was Malkin’s 507th career goal, tying him with NHL legend Jean Beliveau for 44th place on the all-time goals list. This game marked only the third occasion this season—and the first since November 5 against the New York Islanders—where both Crosby and Malkin found the net in the same match.
In terms of recent performance, Crosby has been in excellent form, racking up ten points over his last 12 games, consisting of three goals and seven assists. The Penguins hold a remarkable record of 399-90-48 when both Crosby and Malkin contribute offensively. For the Kings, Kempe has been notably effective against Pittsburgh, scoring nine goals in his last five encounters with the team.
A significant aspect of the game was the remembrance of the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, as this matchup was the Kings’ first home game since the catastrophe. To honor the firefighters and first responders, a ceremony took place at center ice prior to puck drop. Both teams donned Los Angeles Fire Department caps during their pregame warmups as a show of solidarity and respect.
On the statistics front, the Penguins now stand at 2-1 on their current seven-game road trip, which is the franchise’s longest stretch away from home since an eight-game road trip in October 1997.
Looking ahead, the Penguins will continue their journey in Southern California, matching up against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Kings are set to face off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, on Wednesday.
