LA Kings lose bad to the Pittsburgh Penguins with Sydney Crosby contributing well- Jan. 2025

Kings Fall Flat in 5-1 Loss to Penguins on MLK Day honoring the firefighters in LA before the game with the recent fires.

The Los Angeles Kings suffered a humbling 5-1 defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 20th at Crypto.com Arena. Despite holding third place in the Pacific Division, the Kings delivered an uninspired performance, getting outplayed, outmuscled, and outmatched in front of their home crowd.

Adrian Kempe scored the lone goal for Los Angeles, but the team’s offensive struggles were evident throughout the game. Meanwhile, the Penguins were firing on all cylinders, led by the ever-dominant Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Crosby tallied a goal and an assist, while Malkin used his physicality and playmaking ability to control the ice and create numerous scoring chances netting one goal.

The Kings’ defense had a rough night, plagued by turnovers and poor coverage, which allowed the Penguins to capitalize on their opportunities. L.A. also struggled to match Pittsburgh’s physicality, losing key battles along the boards and in front of the net. The Penguins’ aggressive forecheck kept the Kings on their heels, and their penalty kill stifled any hopes of a comeback.

One bright spot for the Kings was the energy brought by some of the newer players in the lineup. While their contributions didn’t translate to the scoresheet, the added depth is something the Kings will need to harness as they push toward the playoffs.  Kempe scored the Kings only goal.

With little time to dwell on the disappointing result, the Kings will look to bounce back on January 22nd against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Facing such a strong opponent will require L.A. to regroup quickly and bring their best effort to avoid slipping further in the standings.

For more on the team and their upcoming schedule, visit the official Kings website at LAKings.com.