Panthers Make Happier Outcome Against Kings in 3-0 Win

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers had seen this film before. Only this time, they had the chance to make a happier final outcome.

Florida entered the final period Wednesday with a 1-0 lead against the Los Angeles Kings, just like they did seven days ago on the Kings’ home ice. The Panthers allowed Los Angeles to control possession in the final period that night, and it resulted in the Kings scoring two goals and taking the 2-1 victory.

Wednesday night would prove to be different. Panthers winger Mackie Samoskevich was asked by Scripps Sports at the second intermission about the team’s confidence going into the third. He mentioned the fact that the Panthers are coming off a two-day break, as opposed to last week’s blown lead in which they were on the second game of a back-to-back.

The difference was apparent in Wednesday’s final 20. The Panthers drew two penalties 1:51 apart early in the period. With a nine-second five-on-three advantage, Matthew Tkachuk fired a shot wide left of the net. The puck ricocheted back to the front of the net where Aleksander Barkov was waiting to tap it in to take the 2-0 lead. 

Sam Bennett, who opened the scoring five minutes into the game, echoed the same sentiments as his linemate Samoskevich. 

“I think we’re definitely a little fresher tonight than the last time, but I think it was just more composure, too,” Bennett said. “And we’re comfortable playing at home with the lead, so that’s always nice.”

It was a playoff-style game that the Panthers have excelled in for the last three seasons. Scoring chances were hard to come by, especially for the Kings.

“That’s when we play our best,” Bennett said. “That brings the best in a lot of us. We enjoy those challenges.”

Dmitry Kulikov, one of the defensemen vital to that style of hockey, was playing in his 1,000th career NHL game and got an assist on Bennett’s goal.

“That’s definitely not an easy feat, getting 1,000 games in the NHL,” Bennett said. “Big congrats to him. The boys stepped up for him tonight, for sure.”

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was sensational in his own right. He stopped all 30 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season.