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Penguins seek fifth consecutive victory

Nov 1, 2006 - 4:45 PM Pittsburgh (6-3-0) at Los Angeles (4-8-2) 10:30 pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have rapidly become a dynamic duo for the surging Pittsburgh Penguins.

Crosby and Malkin look to lead the Penguins to their fifth consecutive victory and to the top spot in the Atlantic Division when they face the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

After scoring 102 points in his rookie campaign, the 19-year-old Crosby leads the team with six goals and nine assists after the first month of this season. He recorded his first career hat trick in last Saturday's 8-2 victory over Philadelphia.

The 20-year-old Malkin, who was the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, is the first Pittsburgh rookie in franchise history to score a goal in each of his first five games. He has nine points to rank third on the team.

Los Angeles snapped a five-game losing streak with Monday's 4-1 victory over the New York Rangers. It was just the Kings' second triumph in 11 contests.

Brent Sopel scored two goals for the fourth time in his career and Sean Avery added a goal and an assist for the Kings, who shut down the Rangers on nine power-play opportunities.

The Penguins have lost their last three contests here since posting a 5-1 victory over the Kings on January 16, 1999. They are 17-44-0 here all-time.