Why Tonight's Penguins-Kings Game Could Define Pittsburgh's Season
Photo credit: PensBurgh
Tonight's clash between the Penguins and Kings could define Pittsburgh's season, as a loss would be three in a row and could spiral them out of control.
It's the first time in years the Penguins have embarked on a Western road trip without having to perform a back-to-back.
The Penguins play the Kings tonight and then wrap up their California swing Saturday in San Jose before coming home to host Vancouver on Tuesday.
Then they'll go south again to face the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, a warm-weather destination stint that they might wish had been postponed until later in the winter.
The Kings, however, have struggled early. They were routed in their home opener 4-1 by Colorado, then split an early-season three-game road trip with Vegas, Winnipeg, and Minnesota, going 1-1-1.
The Penguins Won Both Games vs. the Kings Last Season
Two days of rest precede playing here tonight. Pittsburgh welcomes LA back again on Nov. 9 to wrap up the season series; the Penguins swept last year's two games, going 2-0-0.
Discipline has been a big problem for the Kings, who have been shorthanded a league-leading 22 times in their first four games and surrendered seven power-play goals (68.2% kill rate).
Captain Anze Kopitar is a game-time decision with an undisclosed injury, and goaltender Darcy Kuemper won't play tonight. Anton Forsberg will likely be the netminder, with Pheonix Copley recently re-acquired as insurance at the backup spot.
Kings' Projected Lines
FORWARDS
Andrei Kuzmenko - Anze Kopitar? - Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala - Qunton Byfield - Joel Armia
Warren Foegele - Philip Danault - Trevor Moore
Jeff Malott - Alex Turcotte - Alex Laferriere
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Dumoulin / Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson / Brandt Clarke
Mikey Anderson / Cody Ceci
GOALIES
Anton Forsberg and Pheonix Copley
FORWARDS
Andrei Kuzmenko - Anze Kopitar? - Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala - Qunton Byfield - Joel Armia
Warren Foegele - Philip Danault - Trevor Moore
Jeff Malott - Alex Turcotte - Alex Laferriere
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Dumoulin / Drew Doughty
Joel Edmundson / Brandt Clarke
Mikey Anderson / Cody Ceci
GOALIES
Anton Forsberg and Pheonix Copley
There are plenty of veterans playing tonight's game: Crosby, Malkin, Letang, Karlsson, Doughty, and Kopitar, to name a few, each 35 or older.
Pittsburgh's bottom six is in flux under coach Dan Muse, who's moved his lines around frequently. There would be potential changes, with Noel Acciari available to return to the lineup.
Penguins' Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin - Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak - Ben Kindel - Philip Tomasino
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Filip Hallander
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Matthew Dumba / Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Arturs Silovs, Tristan Jarry
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha - Evgeni Malkin - Justin Brazeau
Tommy Novak - Ben Kindel - Philip Tomasino
Connor Dewar - Blake Lizotte - Filip Hallander
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Matthew Dumba / Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Arturs Silovs, Tristan Jarry
The Penguins have received only seven even-strength goals in four games, three by surprise goal-scorer Justin Brazeau. To have any chance tonight, they'll have to be disciplined and keep the Kings' power play bottled up.
A good penalty kill can quiet the Penguins' early-season stormy seas and get them going on a roll.
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