The view from Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

Shelly Anderson: Penguins give Kings a dose of their own medicine in 4-1 win

Lauding the Kings for their stifling defense-first, physical play in the couple of days leading up to the teams’ game Thursday night at the Staples Center, it was the Penguins who played that style of game – and threw in a couple of buckets of offense — in a 4-1 win.

The Penguins out-hit the Kings, 40-36, and they matched the Kings at 19 shots apiece through two periods before they went into the mode of protecting a lead in the third period, when Los Angeles held a 12-3 shots edge. They also blocked 15 shots to the Kings’ nine.

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Rob Rossi: Penguins shut down Kings, roll to win

The Kings managed to send through only 31 of 50 attempted shots — and 12 of those came in the final period, when the final score was already determined.

“We gave up one breakaway in the third, but besides that I don’t think we gave up one odd-man rush,” Orpik said. “We were just responsible. From the top to the bottom of the lineup, we just thought defense-first, and against a team like that, you have to do it because they are so responsible.”

Rob Rossi: Letang absence not trade-talk related.

He did not look sick Thursday morning, as Letang was – per usual – one of the last skaters off the ice after a practice. He showed no symptoms – pale skin tone, fatigue, congestion-impaired breathing or talking – that generally come with the common cold or flu while speaking with teammates in the visiting dressing room after the Penguins’ 4-1 victory at Staples Center.

Several Penguins players, when pressed Thursday night, politely declined to share any reasons as for why Letang did not play against the Los Angeles Kings; though each said he behaved normally in the morning practice – specifically, doing individual stick work long after most players had gone to the dressing room.

SB NATION: PENSBURGH

Pens beat Kings 4-1

For the Pens, it was a chance for a game to see where they matched up against one of the league’s top teams and, as far as goals against goes, the best defensive team in the league. The Kings have been struggling to produce offense, a trend that continued for another night, but a credit for the Pens to play alert and astute defense.

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