Murashov Stands Tall as Penguins Steal One in Los Angeles
Los Angeles carried the play for most of the night and still lost by three. The difference was in the crease, where Sergei Murashov kept stopping the good looks and Darcy Kuemper didn't.
The Kings outshot Pittsburgh 28-19 and created the better chances throughout. Their looks were worth 4.06 expected goals, meaning that's roughly how many an average night would have produced. They got two. Murashov made 26 saves, including 13 of 14 high-danger shots. At the other end, Kuemper stopped just 14 of 18.
The Penguins made their looks count. Sidney Crosby scored twice, and Evgeni Malkin, on a line with Crosby and Rickard Rakell, set up three goals. Alex Laferriere fired seven shots for the Kings but scored only once.
The iron was even. Artemi Panarin hit it for Los Angeles and Declan Carlile did for Pittsburgh.
The bounces and the goaltending went Pittsburgh's way. The result snaps a three-game skid for the 5-9-2 Penguins.
