National Hockey League
Pittsburgh 4, Los Angeles 3
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 15, 2018
Where: PPG PAINTS Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Referees: Jon McIsaac, Dean Morton
Linesmen: Derek Amell, Brad Kovachik
Attendance: 18627

Phil Kessel scored a power-play goal on a one-timer from Evgeni Malkin at 3:59 of overtime Saturday as the host Pittsburgh Penguins beat the last-place Los Angeles Kings 4-3.

Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist, and Matt Cullen and Tanner Pearson also scored for the Penguins, who won their second in a row and are 5-1-1 in their past seven games.

Jake Muzzin and Alex Iafallo each had a goal and an assist, and Matt Luff added a goal for the Kings, who are 0-3-1 in their last four games.

Penguins goaltender Matt Murray, making his first start since Nov. 17 after recovering from a lower-body injury, stopped 38 of 41 Los Angeles shots.

Jonathan Quick made 32 saves for the Kings.

Cullen scored at 6:58 of the first, the Penguins' second short-handed goal in as many games after not having one this season. Despite being covered by Luff, Cullen got off a wrist shot from the slot.

Rust, who assisted on Cullen's goal, made it seven points in eight games and gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead at 13:04 of the first off a feed from Sidney Crosby.

An apparent Los Angeles goal from Tyler Toffoli at 16:40 of the first was nullified when the Penguins won a successful offside challenge.

At 3:22 of the second, the Kings got a goal that stood. Muzzin scored on a back-door play off a feed from Anze Kopitar to make it 2-1.

Pearson, who was acquired from Los Angeles in a trade last month, boosted the lead to 3-1 at 8:29 of the second with a skillful goal against his former club. He wrested the puck from defenseman Drew Doughty in the right circle, moved in, avoided a poke-check attempt by Quick and roofed the puck over the goalie.

Luff got his third goal in five games, a turning shot from the slot at 10:06 of the second, to again make it a one-goal game, 3-2.

Iafallo tied it 3-3 with a power-play goal at 12:30 of the third. His one-timer from the right circle got under Murray's pads.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
 
Los Angeles   Pittsburgh
Alex Iafallo 2 Points Bryan Rust 2
Alex Iafallo 1 Goals Bryan Rust 1
Alex Iafallo 1 Assists Bryan Rust 1
Alex Iafallo 1 Power Play Goals Phil Kessel 1
N/A Short Handed Goals Matt Cullen 1
Jonathan Quick .889 Save Percentage Matt Murray .927
Jonathan Quick 32 Saves Matt Murray 38
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Los Angeles 41 3 1-3 2-3 6 28
Pittsburgh 36 4 1-3 2-3 6 27
Upcoming Games
  • Pittsburgh will play their next game at home against Anaheim. The Penguins have a W/L % of .429 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Los Angeles will play their next game at home against Winnipeg. The Kings have a W/L % of .182 after a win and .391 after a loss.