Kings 1, Penguins 0, OT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Since stumbling to start this lengthy road trip, the Los Angeles Kings have rebounded with consecutive victories, including a win against one of the NHL’s hottest teams.
Tyler Toffoli scored a minute into overtime, helping the Kings end the Pittsburgh Penguins’ seven-game winning streak with a 1-0 victory Friday night.
Los Angeles is in the midst of a nine-game, 18-day trip that started with a loss Tuesday at Buffalo and ends in two weeks at Edmonton. This game followed a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.
“It’s great to get two big wins in tough buildings on back-to-back nights,” Kings goaltender Peter Budaj said. “We’re going to rest and get ready because this road trip keeps continuing. We have to be sharp because we’re going to play in some tough buildings.”
The Kings have won four straight against the Penguins and three of four overall. Toffoli got his eighth goal, and Budaj stopped 39 shots for his third shutout of the season.
Toffoli scored on a 3-on-1, taking a pass from defenceman Alec Martinez before skating to the top of the crease and lifting a wrist shot that beat Penguins goaltender Matt Murray to the glove side. Seconds earlier, Penguins forward Phil Kessel missed the net and his stick broke on an attempted shot off the rush, creating the 3-on-1 that led to the winner.
“I think we got a fortunate bounce with Kessel breaking his stick,” Toffoli said. “You need some luck on your side and we got that.”
Murray made his fifth straight start and had 27 saves for the Penguins. Pittsburgh previously won nine of 11 and six straight at home.
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby ended his season-high — and NHL-best — nine-game point streak. Crosby leads the league with 21 goals but failed to score in consecutive games for the first time this season. He has points in 20 of 25 games this year.
