Penguins Beat Kings 5-2 Behind Novak Pair

Pittsburgh built an early lead and held on for a 5-2 road win over Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena on November 7, 2026.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Hockey

Penguins Beat Kings 5-2 Behind Novak Pair

Tommy Novak scored twice, including a rebound goal early in the first period, as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-2. Sidney Crosby added an empty-net goal with 1:14 remaining.

Why it matters

The win gives Pittsburgh a road result against a Western Conference opponent in early season play. Novak's two goals and Crosby's empty-net finish were the key scoring contributions in the game.

Pittsburgh led 3-1 after the first period and extended the margin to 4-2 after the second, with Crosby's empty-net goal making the final 5-2. Novak's sixth goal of the season opened the scoring within the first two minutes.

The players

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby is a veteran center and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins who has been one of the franchise's most prominent players.

Tommy Novak

Tommy Novak is a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins who scored two goals in the win over Los Angeles.

The details

Novak scored on rebounds in both of his goals, the first after Declan Carlisle's shot from the left point was blocked in front and the second after Ben Kindel forced a turnover at his own blueline. Los Angeles's Corey Perry and Alex Laferriere scored in the first and second periods, but a Laferriere goal was disallowed after a successful Pittsburgh coaches challenge.

Saturday, November 7, 2026: Penguins defeat Kings 5-2 at Crypto.com Arena.

Season Trajectory

The win is one result in Pittsburgh's ongoing early-season campaign, and the Penguins' scoring has been spread across forwards like Novak alongside veteran centers. The extraction does not provide standings or playoff positioning, so the broader season implications remain unclear.

Novak's two goals and Crosby's empty-net finish are the scoring details fantasy and roster watchers will track from this game. The result also adds a road win to Pittsburgh's record for the early part of the season.

The takeaway

Scoring from depth as well as from top names helped Pittsburgh hold off a Los Angeles team that scored twice in the first two periods. Watching how the Penguins distribute offense across lines remains useful for following their season.