LA Kings Fall to Florida Panthers in Preseason Game

The Los Angeles Kings experienced their first regulation defeat of the preseason with a 4-2 loss against the Florida Panthers. The match was played at Quebec’s Videotron Centre, featuring notable performances from both teams.

The Kings initiated the scoring thanks to forward Phillip Danault, who netted the game’s first goal. Danault capitalized on a shot by defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, redirecting the puck past Panthers’ goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, earning an early lead for the Kings and delighting his hometown fans.

The Panthers promptly responded with two power-play goals before the first intermission. Aleksander Barkov was the beneficiary of an effective passing sequence, finishing with a backhand shot to level the game. Anton Lundell added to the score shortly afterwards by striking a puck mid-air following a deflection off the end boards from Aaron Ekblad‘s shot.

As the second period neared its conclusion, the Panthers extended their lead to 3-1. Jonah Gadjovich’s deflection on a shot from the point managed to slip past Kings’ netminder Darcy Kuemper, furthering the deficit for Los Angeles.

In the third period, the Kings narrowed the margin after a power play through forward Quinton Byfield. Byfield maneuvered through Florida’s defense to set up Trevor Moore, whose goal brought the score to within one. However, Florida sealed their victory with an empty-net goal late in the third period, concluding the game at 4-2.

Following the match, Kings’ forward Phillip Danault expressed the significance of scoring in his home city Quebec, saying, “Pretty special. I mean, I knew Quebec always likes me, but there should be lots of love there, and I really appreciate it.”

Head Coach Jim Hiller remarked on the team’s efforts and the special moments witnessed during the game in Quebec City. “It was nice to see Phillip Danault get that goal. He’s given back to the community, and the fans were waiting to give him the applause he was due,” Hiller stated.

This latest result integrated into a series of exhibitions where Florida, the defending Stanley Cup champions, emerged successful in five out of eight games. The Kings, on the other hand, now stand at 4-1, including a previous overtime defeat.

The LA Kings are scheduled to take a day off on Sunday before resuming practice on Monday, October 7, ahead of their regular season opener.