Los Angeles, CA - The Pittsburgh Penguins emerged victorious with a commanding 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on January 20, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena. This match not only marked the Kings’ first home game since the postponement of previous games due to tragic wildfires but also highlighted the Penguins’ dominance on the ice.
From the outset, the Penguins asserted their control over the game. They outshot the Kings 32 to 25, making it clear they meant business. The first goal came at 10:09 of the first period when Kevin Hayes scored on the power play, showcasing his skill as he drove to the net and maneuvered around defenders to find the puck in the net. This goal, originally awarded with assists, was later noted as unassisted after reviewers removed them, which is somewhat atypical but does happen on occasion.
Just four minutes later, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby extended the lead to 2-0 with a remarkable deflection of Matt Grzelcyk’s shot at 14:09. Crosby’s incredible hand-eye coordination was on full display as he redirected the puck, leaving Kings goalie David Rittich helpless.
The second period saw the Penguins increase their lead to 3-0 during another offensive push. After creating turnovers deep in Kings’ territory, Evgeni Malkin capitalized on a spinning backhand pass from Philip Tomasino and swiftly swept it past Rittich at 8:26.
Things seemed to take a turn when the Kings managed to answer back with their only goal of the night. With power-play opportunities late in the second period, Adrian Kempe found the net at 16:02, cutting the deficit to 3-1. This success, though, did not last long. Just moments later, as the period closed out, Hayes setup Cody Glass, who scored at 19:01, right before the horn sounded for the second intermission. This goal shifted the energy back toward the Penguins, rewarding them with a commanding 4-1 lead.
Despite the Kings’ attempts to capitalize on the momentum from their late goal, the Penguins continued to apply pressure. The final blow came early in the third period when Anthony Beauvillier cleaned up a rebound from Kris Letang's shot, making the score 5-1 at 6:57.
Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic demonstrated impressive form, successfully stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced, thereby improving his record to 9-7-4. His performance was particularly appreciated as he had been under substantial pressure to maintain his performance amid the team's fluctuated goalie lineup, especially following the waiving of Tristan Jarry.
Reflecting on the game, Penguins coach highlighted their disciplined play and the importance of playing through challenges. This was important for the Penguins who sit with 20 wins, 21 losses, and 8 overtime losses after this decisive win.
Off the ice, the Kings honored local first responders during the game, considering the recent tragedies resulting from the wildfires. Players from the Penguins wore LAFD hats during warmups, paying tribute to the brave firefighters along with the venue holding moments of silence prior to the puck drop.
Next, the Kings will look forward to bouncing back when they host last year’s Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, on January 24, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Following the road trip, the Penguins will play against the Anaheim Ducks on January 23.
This match not only serves as a highlight for the Penguins' season but also reinforces their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. The play exhibited on the ice was something fans have long wished for, displaying team unity and execution right when it was desperately needed.