The Penguins have yet to lose on the road this year, but
for that to remain the case they will need to cool off one of the hottest
teams out west.
Pittsburgh will try to deny the Los Angeles Kings a point in an eighth
straight game in tonight's contest at the Staples Center.
The Penguins kicked off a four-game road trip on Tuesday with a 4-3 victory in
Anaheim, improving to 7-0-0 on the road this year. That is tied for the
second-longest road win streak to begin a season and is three victories behind
the record 10 wins the Buffalo Sabres opened the 2006-07 season with.
Pascal Dupuis had the game-winning goal in the third period, while Alex
Goligoski, Michael Rupp and Kris Letang all scored. Marc-Andre Fleury made 26
saves in the win, which came without Evgeni Malkin, who is out with a strained
right shoulder.
"I think from this particular game, there is a lot that we can do a better job
of," said Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. "But it was a team effort."
Pittsburgh leads the NHL with 12 wins, and at 12-3-0 is off to its second-best
start to a season behind only the 1994-95 club that went 12-1-2.
The Kings are 5-0-2 over their last seven games and bounced back from
consecutive shootout losses with a 5-3 win at Phoenix on Monday. Ryan Smyth
scored twice and Drew Doughty had the go-ahead marker late in the third.
"No one on their team really tried to block my shot, so I had a whole lane to
the net," Doughty said. "So I just put it where the goalie wasn't. Luckily it
didn't get blocked or hit a stick, and pretty fortunate to get it in."
Anze Kopitar had a goal and two helpers, giving him 11 goals and 13 assists on
the season. Jonathan Quick stopped 13 shots in the victory.
The Penguins have won three straight over the Kings and snapped a three-game
slide in Los Angeles with a 4-3 overtime victory at Staples Center on November
1, 2006.
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