Kings Rule Panthers

     The Los Angeles Kings stopped the Florida Panthers 4-1 at FLA Live Center on Thursday night. The Panthers had five players placed in the National Hockey League COVID protocol and their roster was shorthanded with 16 skaters. 

     The Panthers lost three straight games in regulation time for the first time this season. The Cats are 3-3-0 at home since they were victorious in 11 consecutive home games to begin the 2021-22 regular season. 

     Florida(18-7-4) struck first with 4:05 left in the first period. Matt Kiersted got his first NHL goal of the year on assists from Sam Reinhart and Jonathan Huberdeau. Reinhart now had five points in the last four contests.

     Los Angeles(13-10-5) tied it up with 2:55 remaining in the first. Olli Maata collected his first tally of the campaign. 

     In the second period, the Kings moved ahead 2-1 at the 3:27 mark as Anze Kopitar netted his ninth goal this season and ended a 13-game goalless slump. It was his 59th career game-winning goal which is tied for second in Los Angeles Kings franchise history. 

     Dustin Brown extended it to 3-1 for Los Angeles on his fourth goal this season with 7:02 left in the second. It became 4-1 when Arthur Kaliyev found the net at 7:02 of the third period for his sixth tally.