Team Records:
Penguins: 2 - 0 - 1 (5 pts)
Kings: 3 - 2 - 0 (6 pts)
Kings Notes:
Gabriel Vilardi enters tonight as the King's leading scorer with seven points (4-3=7) in five games this season. A point tonight will extend his career-long point streak (3-2=5) to four games.
Matt Roy's three goals lead all defensemen in the league. His four points (3-1=4) have all come at even-strength and on the road, both of which are most by a defenseman in the league.
No team has scored more first period goals so far this season than the Kings (8). Overall, LA has scored 19 goals this year second only to the Boston Bruins (21).
The Kings look to start 4-0 on the road for the first time in franchise history.
LA with reunite with Jeff Carter, who registered 383 points (194-189=383) in 580 regular-season games over parts of 10 seasons with the Kings.
Cal Petersen is expected to make his second consecutive start and third start of the season.
Penguins Notes:
No player has played more seasons for the Penguins than Sidney Crosby. Mario Lemieux played in 17 seasons during his career, but now Crosby has played in 18, which, as of last Thursday night, is a new Pittsburgh record.
With Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang all playing for the Penguins, it will mark their 17th season together. That matches the Yankees trio of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada for the longest-tenured trios in NHL/NFL/MLB/NBA history.
Who to Watch:
Anze Kopitar has 18 points (8-10=18) and a +9 plus/minus in 21 career games against the Penguins.
The Penguins one-two punch of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Crosby leads the Penguins in assists (4) and points (6), while Malkin leads the Penguins in goals (3).
