Penguins End the Losing; Not Pretty but Good Enough in LA

LOS ANGELES — A win is a win. The Pittsburgh Penguins (6-9-2) finished more of their chances than the LA Kings (5-8-2) but certainly did not generate extended periods of pressure. Ultimately, Tommy Novak and the Penguins’ newly formed second line lifted the team and it was good enough. Sidney Crosby also made a little more history, and the Penguins beat LA 5-2 at Crypto.com Arena. The game was a much-needed tonic for several of the Penguins’ ailments. Rookie goalie Sergei Murashov stopped 18 of the 20 shots in the first two periods, and 26 overall, to earn his first win of the season (1-4-1). It was his second career win in 11 NHL games. The win also lifted the Penguins out of a tie with the Philadelphia Flyers in last place in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins offense was largely confined to one line, the newly formed Ben Kindel line with Tommy Novak on the left wing and Egor Chinakhov on the right. In the first 50 minutes, the line accounted for two goals and half of the Penguins’ high-danger chances (according to NaturalStatTrick.com ) By late in the third period, only one Penguins player had more than two shots. Kris Letang had three, but Letang also led all players with four turnovers, including two on a mid-second period shift. Crosby’s empty net goal was his third shot on goal. Penguins Goal-Cap 1-0 Penguins: Muse’s line change paid immediate dividends. Tommy Novak scored the first of two rebound goals. An average play became a lamp lighter when Declan Carlile’s point shot hit the uncovered Novak at the net front. Novak (6) collected the loose puck at his feet, spun toward the net, and beat LA goalie Darcy Kuemper at 1:52 of the first period. 2-0: More Novak. More rebounds. This time, Novak made a strong defensive zone steal and bolted up the ice. Before he was stopped by defenders inside the LA blue line, his drop pass opened a lane for center Ben Kindel to charge the net. Kuemper made the save on Kindel, but Novak (7) followed the play and finished the rebound at 5:10 of the first. 2-1: The hockey gods gave LA a little help. Defenseman Mikey Anderson’s shot whistled wide of Penguins goalie Sergei Murashov, but it hit the back glass, fluttered high in the air, and went directly back toward the crease. The only person who tracked the puck was 41-year-old Corey Perry (2), who swatted it out of the air into the net at 14:01. 3-1: A power play goal. Justin Brazeau created a big screen in front, and Egor Chinakhov unleashed a high-slot wrister that hit the inside of the left post. Play continued for 20 more seconds until a whistle, but the double-tap horn signaled a call from Toronto. Chinakhov (3) not only hit the left post, but the puck then hit the white post inside the net before caroming out. Good goal at 19:32. 3-2: Alex Laferriere. Power play. Laferriere’s shot from the right circle deflected off Kaedan Korczak’s angle and changed direction enough that it slipped through Murashov at 3:07 of the second. 3-3? Nope. Laferriere was offside by no more than two inches, but it was offside, and LA’s net-crashing tying goal in the middle of the second period was nullified. 4-2: The Penguins’ quick-strike offense might be old, but three stars connected for an important insurance goal late in the second period. Erik Karlsson backhanded a pass through traffic to Malkin in the right circle. Malkin unleashed a heavy one-timer that was going in regardless, but the puck deflected off Sidney Crosby, who was trying to avoid the shot at the net front. Malkin was initially given credit for the goal, but replays showed Crosby’s (5) slight deflection. A 36-year-old to a 40-year-old, off a 39-year-old. 5-2: Sidney Crosby (6) dove to knock a rolling puck into the empty net. Notes: With the goal, Crosby passed Kings legend Marcel Dionne for sixth on the all-time scoring list (1772). Crosby is now 26 points behind Ron Francis for fifth all-time. Hockey Fights Cancer: In the opening ceremony to celebrate Hockey Fights Cancer Saturday, the LA Kings honored 12-year-old Adrian. He got to ring the bell for beating cancer and drop the ceremonial puck. In two weeks, he’ll ring the bell at LA Children’s Hospital to celebrate his victory. The win marked the first time in history the Penguins have won four in a row in LA. The Penguins had been 0-6-1 in their last seven road games. They face Anaheim Sunday at 8 p.m. local time. Related Headlines Realistic Penguins Trade Values; Comparables and Possible Landing Spots Penguins Game 17, Malkin-Crosby Pair: Lines, Notes, How to Watch vs. Kings (UPDATED) Report: Penguins Ready to Sell, ‘Pretty Quickly’ Read more at Pittsburgh Hockey Now