Penguins Face Kings in Emotional Homecoming Game Amid Wildfire Recovery

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Pittsburgh Penguins faced off against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena in a game marked by emotional undertones and a tribute to California wildfire recovery efforts. The Penguins, continuing their season-long seven-game road trip, entered the matchup with a 19-21-8 record, while the Kings stood at 25-13-5.

The game, which began at 10:30 PM Eastern Time, was broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and ESPN+, with radio coverage available on 105.9 the X and the Penguins app. The Penguins have historically performed well against the Kings, earning points in 15 of their last 23 matchups dating back to 2011.

Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, who is one point shy of reaching 50 points this season, has been a key player in recent games, tallying eight points in his last 11 contests. Crosby is also on the verge of surpassing Bobby Hull for the sixth-most goals scored with one franchise in NHL history. Meanwhile, Bryan Rust has been on a scoring streak, with goals in three consecutive games and eight points in his last six outings.

For the Kings, the game marked a return home after a 2-3-0 road trip. The team has been wearing LAFD stickers on their helmets and patches on their jerseys to honor first responders and those affected by recent wildfires. A specially designed center-ice logo was also unveiled for the game, symbolizing solidarity with the community.

“We’re just trying to play for something bigger than just hockey,” said Kings forward Trevor Moore, a California native. “Anything we can do to support those impacted, we will.”

Goaltender David Rittich was projected to start for the Kings, having posted a 1-0-2 record against Pittsburgh in his career. The Kings have been strong defensively at home, boasting the league’s lowest goals-against per game (GA/GP) at 1.94.

The Penguins, meanwhile, have struggled since the NHL’s holiday break, posting a 3-6-3 record. Forward Rickard Rakell was absent from the game due to family reasons, while P.O. Joseph returned to the lineup after missing the previous game due to illness.

The Kings’ Drew Doughty, recovering from injury, participated in morning skate but did not play. His return to the ice was a positive sign for the team, though no specific timeline for his full return has been set.

As the puck dropped, both teams aimed to balance the emotional weight of the evening with the competitive intensity of the game. The Kings hoped to leverage their strong home record, while the Penguins sought to regain momentum on their road trip.