Penguins crowned royalty over Kings in 5-1 victory to start California road-trip

The Penguins came into Monday night's game against the Kings, trying to start off their California trip on the right foot. The Penguins did just that and more as they came out firing with 2 goals in a 4-minute span late in the first period and they never looked back in a 5-1 victory.

The Penguins also got a really nice performance from goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic in this one as he continued his good play from his recent game against the Buffalo Sabres. Nedeljkovic stopped 25/26 in this one as his lone gaffe was a 5-on-3 powerplay goal on a ripper from Adrian Kempe.

First Period

The Penguins were able to score the first goal in this one as Kevin Hayes continued his hot streak as he took the puck in front of the net and had it poked in by Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson on the powerplay. It was 1-0 Penguins middle of the first period.

But the Penguins were not done there as exactly 4 minutes later, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk took a slapshot from the point and it was deflected in by none other than Sidney Crosby. It fooled Kings goaltender David Rittich and the Penguins were rolling up 2-0 going into the second.

Second Period

The Penguins continued their dominant play in the second period as Evgeni Malkin took a slick backhand backoor feed from Phillip Tomasino and potted it to make it 3-0 Penguins. The Penguins really should put Tomasino back on Malkin's line hint hint.

Owen Pickering and PO Joseph both took penalties 57 seconds apart from each other late in the second period and the Kings capitalized on the 2-man advantage from Adrian Kempe's bomb from above the right circle.

But the Penguins kept the foot on the gas late in the second minutes later, as Kevin Hayes found Cody Glass in front of the net, and he buried it to make it 4-1 Penguins going into the third.

Third Period

The third period was mainly an uneventul period as the Penguins continued to limit the Kings chances and keep them to the outside. But the Penguins did add on early third period as Anthony Beauvillier found a loose puck that Rittich thought he had frozen, and potted it to make it 5-1 Penguins.

That was all she wrote in this massive victory from LA as the Penguins go face the Anaheim Ducks Thursday night at 10 p.m. EST to continue the California roadtrip.