For the first time in over a week, the Los Angeles Kings (6-5-4) and head coach Jim Hiller will hit the road for a six-game road trip in Pittsburgh against the Penguins (9-4-2) at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday (Nov. 9). The Kings posted a record of 1-2-1 in a mediocre result of a homestand this past week in four games on home ice at Crypto.
A big matchup lies ahead to kick off a road trip for six games this weekend for the Los Angeles Kings in Pittsburgh
There needs to be better results on the ice from Hiller and the Kings in the offensive zone this fall. The Kings found success in the last five-game road trip a couple of weeks ago. In the last five-game road trip for the team in late October, the Kings got nine out of a possible 10 points and won four out of five games in the standings in the West.
This afternoon is an good opportunity for the Kings to get on the right side of the win column for the first time this regular season against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. The Kings fell short of the Penguins by multiple goals in the season's first matchup between these two teams this fall on Oct. 16.
Here are three bold predictions as the Kings kick off a six-game road trip in the East against the Penguins on Nov. 9 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
Darcy Kuemper gets his second shutout of the past week
It was a bit surprising to see Hiller and the Kings start backup goalie Anton Forsberg in net against the Panthers a few days ago on Thursday night (Nov. 6). Forsberg hasn't been great to start this regular season. He allowed five goals on 24 shots on goal against the Panthers on Tuesday for the Kings.
I think it's likely that Darcy Kuemper will get his 11th start of this regular season this morning against the Penguins. Kuemper registered his 37th career shutout and the season's first shutout for the Kings in his last start earlier this week on home ice.
Kuemper reportedly (per Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider) is "expected" to get the start for the Kings on Sunday against the Penguins in Pittsburgh. This would be Kuemper's first start in net for the Kings since this past Tuesday night (Nov. 4) against the Winnipeg Jets.
Kings take just one penalty
Discipline issues and inconsistencies with the special teams on the power play have been major problems for Hiller and the Kings early this regular season. Hiller and the Kings have been on the power play early this regular season 47 times, which ranks in the bottom half of the league in the NHL.
There hasn't been a single game this regular season that the Kings have scored multiple power play goals in a game on the ice.
One positive for the Kings on special teams on the penalty kill has been the improvement in discipline, taking penalties in the past couple of weeks on home ice. The Kings have taken two or fewer penalties to go on the penalty kill on special teams in two of the past three games this past week on home ice.
Warren Foegele scores the game-winning goal in his return vs. Pittsburgh
A bit of good news for Hiller and the Kings going into this matchup against the Penguins this weekend on Sunday is a positive injury update for forward Warren Foegele.
Foegele is set to return to the lineup for the Kings this weekend on Sunday (Nov. 9) on the road in Pittsburgh vs. the Penguins. Foegele missed the past couple of weeks for the Kings due to an upper-body injury he suffered a couple of weeks ago on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks in late October.
The season's only goal that Foegele has scored for Hiller and the Kings staff this fall in the West came against the Penguins a few weeks ago on Oct. 16 at home at Crypto Arena. Foegele is expected to join center Alex Turcotte and veteran winger Corey Perry on the team's fourth-line forward group vs. Pittsburgh today.