Recap: Los Angeles vs. Florida
Sports Network | November 07, 2008
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Dustin Brown's goal with 8:37 left in the third period proved to be the eventual game-winner, as the Los Angeles Kings held on for a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers in a matchup of two struggling teams.
Brian Boyle and Tom Preissing scored in the first period for the Kings, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Drew Doughty added two assists for Los Angeles, which outshot the Panthers 32-15.
"I think we have been playing pretty good hockey and obviously not getting the results that we wanted in a couple of these games at home," said Brown. "Tonight we put forth a good effort and got the result that we wanted."
Erik Ersberg had 13 saves for the Kings.
Anthony Stewart and Nathan Horton scored the goals for Florida, which has lost five straight. Tomas Vokoun had 29 saves for the Panthers.
The Kings jumped out to 2-0 lead with two scores late in the first period. Boyle fired in a rebound for a 1-0 lead at 16:27, and Preissing added a power- play score 2:11 later.
Anze Kopitar made a nice backhanded cross-ice feed on the man advantage, and Preissing one-timed it past Vokoun for the 2-0 edge with 1:22 left in the first period.
"We didn't have a good first period," said Panthers head coach Peter Deboer. "It's inexcusable and you'll have to ask the leadership group in the room, and we're just not good enough bottom line."
Stewart's goal 2:09 into the final period cut the lead in half for LA, but Brown responded with a nifty move at 11:23. Brown took the puck at the left circle, turned to his right as if to pass, then quickly sent a wrister across his body and past Vokoun for a 3-1 edge.
Horton's shorthanded shot deflected in with 50.2 seconds left to make it a one-goal game, but the Panthers couldn't draw even in the final minute.
Florida fell to 1-5-1 on the road this season...The Kings have won four straight and five of six in the series...The Panthers went 0-for-5 with the man advantage, while LA went 1-of-4.
