Florida Panthers Lose A Wild One To The Los Angeles Kings, 2-1
The Florida Panthers are taking a rare trip to the left coast to take on the Los Angeles Kings tonight. The Cats are 1-1 in their current four game road trip.
The Los Angeles Kings will be hosting the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night in the first of two matchups between the two this season. Florida is 8-5-0 away from the Bank-Atlantic Center, and the Kings are a pedestrian 7-6-1 at home. Florida has gone 1-1 on their current four-game road trip, losing 5-1 in Tampa Bay and beating the Hurricanes 3-1 in Carolina. They go on to face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday before returning to Sunrise. The Kings are in the middle of a four game homestand. They lost 2-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks before shutting out the San Jose Sharks 2-0. They go on to host the Montreal Canadians on Saturday.
The teams last met on December 2, 2010. The Kings handed Florida a 3-2 loss as Anze Kopitar scored the game winner with just under three minutes remaining. Jonathan Quick stopped 24 of 26 shots for the win as Tomas Vokoun allowed three goals on 24 shots. Michal Repik and David Booth scored Florida's goals.
In Florida's last game, the Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1. Tomas Fleischmann netted his 11th goal of the season and Shawn Matthias scored twice in the third period to earn the victory against Cam Ward. Jose Theodore stopped 26 of 27 shots for the win.
Los Angeles handed San Jose a 2-0 loss on Monday night as Jonathan Quick posted his league leading fourth shutout, stopping all 33 shots on goal. Mike Richards and Ethan Moreau scored for the Kings in the victory.
Florida Panthers: 13-7-4, 30 points, first SE Division, third Eastern Conference, seventh NHL, on pace for 103 points.
Los Angeles Kings: 12-8-4, 28 points, third Pacific Division, eighth Western Conference, 14th NHL, on pace for 96 points.
Mikael Samuelsson is a possibility in tonight's game, but has as of yet to skate with Florida. Scottie Upshall and Matt Bradley are also still out of commission. Marcel Goc is still listed as out with a head injury. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is listed as questionable after having his calf inadvertently slashed by a skate in Tuesday's game. Scott Clemmensen is now listed as "available." The Panthers have been keeping Evgeni Dadonov and Tim Kennedy on the active roster, and called up Mark Cullen before Tuesday's game against Carolina.
Probable Starters
Goaltenders:
Jose Theodore (10-4-3) will likely make the start for Florida. Jonathan Quick (10-6-4) may get the start for the Kings.
Forwards:
1. Fleischmann - Weiss - Versteeg
2. Sturm - Santorelli - Kopecky
3. Bergenheim - Matthias - Skille
4. Kennedy - Cullen - Dadonov
Defense:
1. Campbell - Garrison
2. Jovanovski - Gudbranson
3. Ellerby - Weaver
Common Thread:
Panthers defenseman Mike Weaver played in 92 games from 2005-2007 with the Kings, scoring three goals and 15 assists with a minus-seven rating and 30 penalty minutes.
Panthers forward Marco Sturm played in 17 games for the Kings last season, scoring four goals and five assists with a plus-six rating and 17 penalty minutes.
Team Milestones:
Ed Jovanovski's next goal will be his 32nd, which will move him into a tie for 32nd with Richard Zednik. His next assist will give him 58 with the Panthers, tying him with Paul Laus, in 30th.
Mike Santorelli's next goal will be number 24 as a Panther, moving him into a tie with Dave Gagner in 45th place all-time. Tonight will mark his 100th game as a Panther.
Shawn Matthias' two goals on Tuesday moved him into the Panther Top-50. His next goal will give him 21, moving him into a tie for 47th with Brett McLean.
Dmitry Kulikov's next assist will give him 48 for his career, moving him into a tie for 39th with Keith Ballard. Two more points for Kulikov will move him into the Panthers All-Time Top 50.
The Los Angeles Kings will be hosting the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night in the first of two matchups between the two this season. Florida is 8-5-0 away from the Bank-Atlantic Center, and the Kings are a pedestrian 7-6-1 at home. Florida has gone 1-1 on their current four-game road trip, losing 5-1 in Tampa Bay and beating the Hurricanes 3-1 in Carolina. They go on to face the San Jose Sharks on Saturday before returning to Sunrise. The Kings are in the middle of a four game homestand. They lost 2-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks before shutting out the San Jose Sharks 2-0. They go on to host the Montreal Canadians on Saturday.
The teams last met on December 2, 2010. The Kings handed Florida a 3-2 loss as Anze Kopitar scored the game winner with just under three minutes remaining. Jonathan Quick stopped 24 of 26 shots for the win as Tomas Vokoun allowed three goals on 24 shots. Michal Repik and David Booth scored Florida's goals.
Panthers @ Kings 12/2/10 (via NHLVideo)
In Florida's last game, the Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1. Tomas Fleischmann netted his 11th goal of the season and Shawn Matthias scored twice in the third period to earn the victory against Cam Ward. Jose Theodore stopped 26 of 27 shots for the win.
Panthers @ Hurricanes 11/29/11 (via NHLVideo)
Los Angeles handed San Jose a 2-0 loss on Monday night as Jonathan Quick posted his league leading fourth shutout, stopping all 33 shots on goal. Mike Richards and Ethan Moreau scored for the Kings in the victory.
Sharks @ Kings 11/28/11 (via NHLVideo)
Season Series: 0-0-0
All-Time Series: 8-10-4
Game Time: 10:30 EST
Standings
Florida Panthers: 13-7-4, 30 points, first SE Division, third Eastern Conference, seventh NHL, on pace for 103 points.
Los Angeles Kings: 12-8-4, 28 points, third Pacific Division, eighth Western Conference, 14th NHL, on pace for 96 points.
Mikael Samuelsson is a possibility in tonight's game, but has as of yet to skate with Florida. Scottie Upshall and Matt Bradley are also still out of commission. Marcel Goc is still listed as out with a head injury. Defenseman Dmitry Kulikov is listed as questionable after having his calf inadvertently slashed by a skate in Tuesday's game. Scott Clemmensen is now listed as "available." The Panthers have been keeping Evgeni Dadonov and Tim Kennedy on the active roster, and called up Mark Cullen before Tuesday's game against Carolina.
Probable Starters
Goaltenders:
Jose Theodore (10-4-3) will likely make the start for Florida. Jonathan Quick (10-6-4) may get the start for the Kings.
Forwards:
1. Fleischmann - Weiss - Versteeg
2. Sturm - Santorelli - Kopecky
3. Bergenheim - Matthias - Skille
4. Kennedy - Cullen - Dadonov
Defense:
1. Campbell - Garrison
2. Jovanovski - Gudbranson
3. Ellerby - Weaver
Common Thread:
Panthers defenseman Mike Weaver played in 92 games from 2005-2007 with the Kings, scoring three goals and 15 assists with a minus-seven rating and 30 penalty minutes.
Panthers forward Marco Sturm played in 17 games for the Kings last season, scoring four goals and five assists with a plus-six rating and 17 penalty minutes.
Team Milestones:
Ed Jovanovski's next goal will be his 32nd, which will move him into a tie for 32nd with Richard Zednik. His next assist will give him 58 with the Panthers, tying him with Paul Laus, in 30th.
Mike Santorelli's next goal will be number 24 as a Panther, moving him into a tie with Dave Gagner in 45th place all-time. Tonight will mark his 100th game as a Panther.
Shawn Matthias' two goals on Tuesday moved him into the Panther Top-50. His next goal will give him 21, moving him into a tie for 47th with Brett McLean.
Dmitry Kulikov's next assist will give him 48 for his career, moving him into a tie for 39th with Keith Ballard. Two more points for Kulikov will move him into the Panthers All-Time Top 50.
Team Leaders:
Goals:
Kris Versteeg - 12
Tomas Fleischmann - 11
Stephen Weiss, Jason Garrison - 8
Assists:
Brian Campbell - 17
Stephen Weiss - 15
Dmitry Kulikov, Kris Versteeg - 14
Points:
Kris Versteeg - 26
Tomas Fleischmann - 24
Stephen Weiss - 23
Plus/Minus:
Tomas Fleischmann - plus-14
Stephen Weiss - plus-13
Kris Versteeg - plus-12