The Penguins defeated the Anaheim Ducks 7-4 on Friday, giving them their longest winning streak on the road since winning eight in a row March 11-April 7, 2016. Pittsburgh is 10-1-0 overall since Dec. 19. The Kings have lost four of their past five games, including 4-1 to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday.
Players to watch
Penguins forward Tanner Pearson has three goals in his past two games. Pearson will play at Staples Center for the first time since he was traded to Pittsburgh from Los Angeles on Nov. 14. Kings forward Kyle Clifford has scored twice in the past three games. Clifford has seven goals this season, tying his NHL career high (2010-11; 2012-13).
They said it
"A lot of good memories that happened in this town for myself. It's definitely going to be weird here Saturday night playing in the Staples Center and going into the visiting room." -- Penguins forward Tanner Pearson, who played for the Kings from 2013-18 "I was there for three years but it felt like a decade. So many fun times. A lot of good things happened to me and my family, so all of those memories make it feel like I was there for a lot longer than I was." -- Kings forward Carl Hagelin, who won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017
Luff will play after being scratched for the past three games, replacing Wagner on the fourth line. … Schultz participated in an optional skate Saturday.
Stat pack
The Penguins have won three straight against the Kings. … Pittsburgh has scored at least four goals in six of its past eight games. … Malkin (seven assists) and Pettersson (six) are each on five-game assist streaks. … Los Angeles has allowed at least four goals in three of its past four home games.
