GAME RECAP: Penguins Dethrone Kings 4-3 and Complete California Sweep
The Pittsburgh Penguins won a wild game in Los Angeles to clinch the coveted California sweep.
The Pittsburgh Penguins battled passed the streaking Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Thursday night. It was a role-reversal game for the Penguins, who were outplayed through most of the matchup.
The Penguins relied on stellar goaltending by Magnus Hellberg, who stopped 33 of the 36 shots he faced, and opportunistic offense to earn their third straight victory.
Goal Recap
(PIT 1-0) Sidney Crosby (7): Unassisted
(TIE 1-1) Carl Grundstrom (5): Anze Kopitar (7) & Matt Roy (5) <SHG>
(LAK 2-1) Adrian Kempe (6): Mikey Anderson (7) & Quinton Byfield (10)
(TIE 2-2) Lars Eller (2): Unassisted <SHG>
(PIT 3-2) Jake Guentzel (5): Sidney Crosby (7) & Erik Karlsson (8)
(TIE 3-3) Kevin Fiala (2): Unassisted
(PIT 4-3) Bryan Rust (7): Evgeni Malkin (7) & Erik Karlsson (9)
Three Stars
3. Bryan Rust
Someone rarely scores two overtime goals in one game, but Rust did just that against the Kings on Thursday night. After his first goal was waived off due to an offsides review, Rust carried the puck down the right side and wrapped it around the net, beating Phoenix Copley to the far post and handing the Penguins their third straight win.
2. Magnus Hellberg
With Tristan Jarry out with a swollen eye, Hellberg made his first start of the year against a red-hot Los Angeles Kings team. The Kings owned the time of possession and the majority of the scoring chances through the first two periods, but Hellberg stood tall and was the primary reason the Penguins entered the final frame tied 2-2.
Make no mistake, Hellberg is not going to put a Vezina-level campaign together anytime soon, but he made a handful of top-tier saves, especially in the second period, and kept the Penguins within striking distance all night.
1. Sidney Crosby
This game may have been the best Crosby has looked all season long. He opened the scoring tonight with a smooth wraparound goal on his backhand. Crosby then gave the Pens a 3-2 lead in the opening minute of the third with a beautiful cross-ice pass to Jake Guentzel.
His work below the goal line was vintage Crosby tonight, and it helped create multiple scoring chances. For most of the night, Crosby's line was the only glimmer of offensive pressure against a very aggressive Kings team.
The Penguins swept their three-game California road trip for the first time since 1997 and have pulled even on the season at 6-6-0. They return home on Saturday to take on the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena.
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