Penguins open three-game California swing in Los Angeles

After an action packed Tuesday night, there are only three games scheduled in the NHL on Wednesday night. The Los Angeles Kings will welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins in one of the late games. Will the Pens book an important win in Los Angeles in their battle for a guaranteed play-off ticket?

Los Angeles Kings: Sellers during the trade deadline

In the coming years, the Los Angeles Kings will have to rebuild their team so that they can compete for the Stanley Cup again. The current season is anything but rosy for the Kings, as the hockey team is currently fifteenth in the Western Conference with a record of 22-35-6, only the Detroit Red Wings have a worse record. As hopes of reaching the play-offs have faded for some time, a couple of players have been traded recently in exchange for draft picks.

Winger Kyle Clifford and backup goalie Jack Campbell were traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tyler Toffioli, who was Los Angeles' team’s leading goal-scorer, went to the Vancouver Canucks about a week and a half ago. Last Sunday, the Kings played a home game against the Edmonton Oilers. Los Angeles had the bad luck that Connor McDavid made his return after injury in this game. Edmonton's captain gave Edmonton a boost with a goal and two assists in a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Pittsburgh Penguins: aim for a division title

For the Pittsburgh Penguins it hasn't exactly turned out to be a flawless season yet. Coach Mike Sullivan has had to deal with a huge injury wave, in which one important player after another dropped out of the lineup. Despite some setbacks, the Penguins are competing for the division title in the Metro Division this season. Pittsburgh is four points behind the division leading Washington Capitals, but still has two more games in hand.

The Penguins have also been active in recent weeks during the trade deadline, with left winger Jason Zucker as the biggest reinforcement, and also on the last day of the trade deadline some nice deals were made. With Patrick Marleau the Pens added speed to the team and Conor Sheary, who won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017 on behalf of the Penguins, returns to his former club. After three consecutive defeats against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and the Washington Capitals, they need to get back on track Wednesday night.

Pens in regulation

Pittsburgh has now lost three games in a row and a game against Los Angeles seems to be the perfect opportunity to win again. The Kings are often powerless on the offensive end and that is certainly the case after the departure of their leading goal-scorer Toffioli. The Pens are still fighting for a division title, but especially after the recent loss to the division leading Capitals, they can't afford a long losing streak. I expect a motivated Pittsburgh in the first game of a three-game swing in California.