LOS ANGELES (AP) — The LA Kings suffered their seventh consecutive loss on Thursday evening, falling 3-2 in overtime against the Florida Panthers. It was the fourth time in six games that the Kings were pushed into overtime.
The Kings took an early lead with a goal from Trevor Moore in the opening period. Moore capitalized on a rebound off Kevin Fiala’s shot, putting it past the Panthers’ goaltender for his team-leading 18th goal of the season.
Florida fought back in the second period, with Sam Bennett scoring the equalizer off a fortunate deflection. The Kings managed to regain the lead before intermission, as Drew Doughty fired a one-timer from Adrian Kempe’s setup on the power play.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, the Panthers pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker and managed to tie the game at 2-2. Matthew Tkachuk deflected a shot from Carter Verhaeghe into the net, forcing the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Kings’ hopes were quickly dashed when Adrian Kempe was penalized for cross-checking. The Panthers took advantage of the power play and Sam Reinhart scored the game-winning goal with less than a second remaining on the clock.
Following the game, Kings forward Phillip Danault expressed his evaluation of the game, acknowledging that it could have gone either way. He highlighted the team’s effort and the positive aspect of playing a good 60 minutes.
Anze Kopitar, another forward for the Kings, emphasized the need for the team to find another gear in order to end their losing streak. He acknowledged the frustration of losing late in the game but remained hopeful that the team would bounce back.
Kings head coach Todd McLellan commended the team’s intensity and tenacity in the game, despite the disappointing result. He highlighted the progress the team has made and the need to eliminate costly penalties.
In terms of statistical achievements, Drew Doughty’s power-play goal marked his 75th career goal, surpassing Bobby Orr for the ninth-most by a defenseman with a single franchise. Trevor Moore also reached a new career-high with his 18th goal of the season.
The Kings will have a day off in Detroit before returning to the ice on Saturday for a morning skate before their next game.
The LA Kings extended their losing streak to seven games with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. The Kings took an early lead but were unable to hold on, allowing the Panthers to tie the game and ultimately win in overtime. The team remains determined to find a way to turn their fortunes around and end their losing streak.