In defenseman Drew Doughty’s return to the ice, the Florida Panthers shut out the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 thanks to a 29-save performance from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
The game-winning goal and first goal of the game would come only 4:55 into the match when the Panthers forechecked hard and forced a turnover in their offensive zone. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov rounded up the loose puck and sent it in front toward winger Matthew Tkachuk, who spun and handed it off to center Sam Bennett with a wide-open goal.
The Panthers’ second goal would come a full two periods later from center Aleksander Barkov 4:43 into the third. On the two-man advantage, winger Sam Reinhardt won a faceoff back to Tkachuk, who was playing at the point before taking a shot that slammed off the boards and popped right back in front to Barkov, who lifted it over the pad of Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper.
Florida’s third and final goal would come with just over a minute left in the game on the empty net. After a shot was deflected in front, winger Eetu Luostarinen passed the puck over to Tkachuk, who launched a diving shot into the open cage.
Despite the return of legendary Kings defender Doughty, the team struggled defensively, letting up 39 shots in the game. There was clearly no minute restriction on Doughty, who had 21:29 of ice time: three minutes more than the next closest Joel Edmundson. Kuemper turned aside 36 shots in the game and only had two goals against, with the third coming on the empty net.
Now losing their third straight game and fifth of the last six, Los Angeles looks ahead to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday at 4 p.m.