Penguins Play the Kings, but They May Be Reaching Panic Mode
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Today we look at tonight’s (Nov. 9) game in Los Angeles against the Kings, and then the Penguins who have struggled so far and whether the team is in Panic Mode yet.
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Penguins Gameday Preview: Los Angeles Kings 11/09/23
November 9, 2023 by George Majchrzak
When the Anaheim Ducks visited the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 30, the Ducks walked away with a 4-3 victory after Mason McTavish scored on a shorthanded breakaway with 13 seconds left in regulation. On Tuesday (Nov. 7), the Penguins visited Anaheim and got one back in a close 2-0 victory. Tristan Jarry and Magnus Hellberg shared the shutout, the fifth Penguins shared shutout and first since 2013.
Tonight (Nov. 9), the 5-6-0 Penguins finish their three-game California residency with a stop in Los Angeles to face a Kings team off to a strong start. At 8-2-2, the Kings trail only divisional foes the Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks for first place in the Western Conference. The Kings enter tonight’s game on no rest, having dispatched the Golden Knights 4-2 last night (Nov. 8), giving them their seventh-straight road win to begin the season, which ties them for fourth best all-time.
Though the Penguins are playing better, they must be aware of the firepower the Kings are bringing into the game. Normally a strong defensive club, the Kings find themselves second only to the Canucks in both goals scored (51) and goals scored per game (4.25).
The Penguins defense will be challenged, especially now that they will be without Jarry. Since this article was published this morning, it has been confirmed that Jarry is OUT tonight against the Kings. Goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist got the call up to back up Hellberg.
Penguins Are Close to Panic Mode
November 7, 2023 by Sylvie McCarthy
With a 4-6-0 record, the Pittsburgh Penguins are currently in last place in the Metropolitan Division. After missing the playoffs last year for the first time in almost two decades, the team made a lot of changes in the offseason to ensure a postseason appearance in 2024. If the Penguins learned anything last season, it was that without a full team performance, they would not be successful. There are more than a few players who have not been pulling their weight, and if they don’t start contributing soon, the playoffs will be a distant memory.