The circumstances were particularly meaningful for Pittsburgh forward Blake Lizotte, who started his NHL career with the Kings and had 106 points (37 goals, 69 assists) in 320 games for them. This was his first game at Crypto.com Arena as a visitor, but the LAFD hat he wore after the morning skate reflected the larger circumstances.

In their first home game back to Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Kings and the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins honoured the local fire department by wearing LAFD hats during warm-ups and partaking in a centre-ice ceremony ahead of first puck drop.

The Los Angeles Kings honored firefighters and first responders in the first game back in their downtown arena since the catastrophic wildfires that devastated large parts of Los Angeles.