The Kings and the Cats each scored a goal and 24 total penalty minutes were assessed as the Panthers outshot Los Angeles 16-7.
The Cats controlled the pace for the first half of the period, collecting seven shots on goal in the first five minutes.
Dustin Brown added to the Kings lead with his fifth goal of the season with just under six minutes to go in the period on the Kings second power play of the night. Assists were awarded to Slava Voynov and goaltender Jonathan Quick.
The Panthers answered quickly, with Sean Bergenheim scoring his third marker of the season just over one minute later with assists from Tomas Kopecky and Erik Gudbranson. Gudbranson’s assist is his first career NHL point.
A tip of the hat goes to Jonathon Quick, who was just spectacular in net for the Kings, and against a lesser goaltender the Panthers would probably have scored five goals by now. Meanwhile, Jose Theodore is helping the Panthers stay in the game with a few gamebreaking saves of his own.
The Los Angeles penalty kill is proving difficult for the Panthers to solve. Most of the shots on goal for the Cats have come on the man advantage.
Tune in for the third period if you can, check back here later if you can’t.