The Los Angeles Kings face the Pittsburgh Penguins with both teams looking to build off strong starts to the season. The Kings have a 3-2 record and are currently on a three-game winning streak. The Penguins have a 2-0-1 record and are in the middle of a competitive Metropolitan Division. Both teams are looking to improve in their conferences to start the season and the upcoming game should be a great one as a result.
The Kings are on a three-game winning streak with their offense stepping up and scoring 3.80 goals per game with 16 goals in their last three games. Gabriel Vilardi, Adrian Kempe, and Anze Kopitar have scored nine goals and 10 assists to lead the top two lines but the rest of the offense has also stepped up. Kevin Fiala, Arthur Kaliyev, and Quinton Byfield have combined for two goals and nine assists while defensemen Matt Roy and Sean Durzi have added three goals and four assists from the point to put the offense over the top to start the season.
The offense has carried the Kings but the defense has struggled, allowing 4.20 goals per game. Drew Doughty and Sean Durzi have led the top two pairings but the rest of the defense has struggled, allowing opponents to carry the puck into the offensive zone and generate shots on the net. Moreover, goaltender Jonathan Quick looks to rebound from a rough start to the season as he has a .866 save percentage and a 4.32 goals-against average on only 67 shots.