The Florida Panthers came to Crypto.com Arena hoping to bounce back from a brutal loss to the Anaheim Ducks, while the Los Angeles Kings looked to build some momentum after a 3-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets a few nights ago.
Self-inflicted mistakes due to the Kings and Panthers’ ability to capitalize on them lifted them to a 5-2 victory over the Kings on Thursday evening.
Summary of the game
The Panthers got off to a strong, fast start and wasted no time getting things going when Sam Bennett opened the scoring just over two minutes into the opening frame. Bennett collected the puck in front of the net on Jeff Petry’s shot from the point before sliding it past a swinging Anton Forsberg.
Adrian Kempe found himself on a clear breakaway a minute after Bennett’s goal with a chance to level the score at one, but Sergei Bobrovsky had other plans and stretched to stop Kempe’s Forsberg-esque shot.
Midway through the first, the Kings got their second power play of the game, in which they took advantage. Kempe’s blind shot from the point was tipped by Anze Kopitar, who scored his first goal of the season.
Less than two minutes later, the Kings found the back of the net again. Mikey Anderson from the Kings blue line brought up Corey Perry on a breakaway where he made no mistake as he finished. The 40-year-old pulled up a high glove for his sixth goal in nine games.
The back-and-forth continued through the remainder of the first period, with Brad Marchand tying things up late in the period at two. Forsberg, completely unaware of Marchand, was stripped of the puck behind the net before Marchand stepped forward to bury it.
Starts were clearly an emphasis for the Panthers, who again came out with purpose. The difference in the second was that the ruthlessness remained consistent throughout and they defeated the Kings 8-1.
After plenty of pressure and puck possession, Carter Verhaeghe found Sam Reinhart in the closing stages for his seventh of the season, giving the Panthers a 3-2 lead they would take into the third period.
The Kings got their fourth power play opportunity of the night, seven minutes into the third period, with a chance to tie the game at three. Instead, they gave up the second short-handed escape of the night. This time Anton Lundell managed to give the Panthers a 4-2 lead.
An unsettling second half for the Kings continued. A bouncing puck that bounced off Kopitar’s stick at the blue line landed on Marchand’s stick, who went in for Forsberg and potted his second of the night to extend the Panthers’ lead to three goals.
The Panthers conclude their Southern California road trip on Saturday with a visit to the Shark Tank, while the Kings prepare for a long six-game road trip.
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