Los Angeles Kings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Kings Aim to Extend Winning Ways on Road Trip

The Los Angeles Kings hit the halfway point of their season-long road trip as they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. The Kings are playing some of their best hockey of 2024, winning seven of their last eight games, including a dominant 5-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Kings Heating Up

After a minor stumble in a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils last Thursday, the Kings responded impressively against the Rangers.

Quinton Byfield, Warren Foegele, Adrian Kempe, and Alex Turcotte all made significant contributions, each registering a goal and an assist. Anze Kopitar also stood out, adding two assists while maintaining his streak of avoiding minor penalties this season.

However, not all the news was positive for Los Angeles. Forward Trevor Moore sustained an upper-body injury against New Jersey and did not participate in Monday’s practice. His availability for Tuesday remains uncertain.

The Kings, who are on a tour of the Eastern Conference, have already faced the three New York-area teams and now head to Pittsburgh before wrapping up their road trip with stops in Philadelphia, Nashville, and Washington. They’ll return home just in time for the Christmas break.

Penguins Struggling with Consistency

The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, have dropped three of their last five games (2-2-1) and are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.

The defeat was compounded by a significant injury to defenseman Marcus Pettersson, who left the game in the first period after crashing hard into the boards. Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed on Monday that Pettersson will be sidelined week-to-week with a lower-body injury—a tough blow for the Penguins’ blue line.

Jarry’s Uphill Battle in Net

The Penguins are expected to start Tristan Jarry in goal. A two-time NHL All-Star (2020, 2022), Jarry has struggled mightily this season and even spent time in the AHL during November to reset his game.

Among goalies with at least 10 appearances this season:

  • Jarry ranks 48th in the NHL with an .885 save percentage.
  • His 3.59 goals-against average is 53rd in the league.

Jarry’s frustration was evident after Ottawa’s second goal on Saturday—a centering pass by Thomas Chabot that deflected off Drake Batherson’s skate and into the net.

Historically, Jarry has a mixed record against the Kings, going 2-4-0 in six career starts with a .914 save percentage and a 3.16 GAA.

Kuemper Solid for the Kings

On the other side, the Kings are likely to turn to Darcy Kuemper in net. Kuemper, who started in the Kings’ most recent victory, holds a career record of 4-4-1 against the Penguins with a .910 save percentage and a 3.08 GAA.

What to Watch For

  • Kings’ Momentum: Can Los Angeles maintain their winning form as they continue their road grind?
  • Pittsburgh’s Defense: How will the Penguins adjust without Marcus Pettersson anchoring their blue line?
  • Goaltending Battle: Jarry needs a bounce-back performance, but Kuemper and the Kings’ offense are riding high.

Final Thoughts

The Kings enter Tuesday’s matchup with confidence and momentum, while the Penguins must find a way to overcome injuries and inconsistent play. As Los Angeles looks to continue climbing in the standings, Pittsburgh will aim to defend home ice and find stability ahead of the holidays.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET at PPG Paints Arena.

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