Pens Try To Extend Road Win Streak In LA
(Sports Network) - 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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