"We Need to Win it for Scuds"

That's what Ryan Smyth said when asked about tonight's game against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

If that's the extra motivation the Kings need to beat the Pens tonight, so be it. However, there are plenty of other reasons if that alone doesn't do the trick:

• Other teams in the West - Colorado and San Jose to name a few - continue to pick up points and keep the race tight. Two points is two points. LA needs them.
• Keep the streak alive - the Kings are 5-0-2 in their last seven games.
• End the streak - the Pens are a perfect 7-0 on the road this year. It may be an early season game, but don't you think a few people around the league would stand up and take notice if LA won tonight? Not to mention the confidence it would give the Kings.
• The hit - so much has been written about the Malkin / Simmonds thing from last Spring already. Even though Malkin won't be playing tonight, the motivation is there.
• Top line in Top shape - in their last game together (a reunion of sorts), the Smyth-Kopitar-Williams line picked up right where they left off. Each guy had a goal and the unit looked sharp. How many points will they get tonight? It's going to be tough. They're playing an elite goalie in Fleury, who boasts 1.98 goals-against average in his three games vs LA.

The puck drops at 7:30pm.

Tickets are still available for some crazy reason.

One19

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