Slumping Kings host Panthers, look to shed doldrums

The struggling Los Angeles Kings will be facing a tall order to change their fortunes when they host the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Wednesday.

Thanks to a dismal 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday -- coming on a night in which Los Angeles honored the first responders who have been battling the wildfires that have destroyed swaths of the area -- the Kings have lost two straight games and four of their last five outings.

"Definitely not our game from top to bottom," Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar said. "Didn't get anything going, and even when we did with the power-play goal, they come right back and score the fourth one, which turned out to be, obviously, a big goal."

The only highlight of the clash, beyond showing appreciation to some of those who have risked their lives battling the blazes, was Adrian Kempe scoring a goal for his third consecutive game.

Otherwise, it was a disappointing performance for the team that enjoyed a 13-2-2 run that started in late November before this swoon.

Coach Jim Hiller even called it the most disappointing outing, which saw his team's nine-game home winning streak come to a close.

"We've been really consistent with our work ethic, with our discipline and it just wasn't our night," Hiller told lakingsinsider.com. "Over a long season, you usually say that too many times and we haven't had to say that much this year. So, we'll come back against the defending Stanley Cup champions, and if that doesn't wake you up and get you ready to play, I don't know what does."

The Panthers head to Los Angeles having kicked off a four-game road trip with a decisive 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

Indicative of a team-wide strong performance, Florida finished with five different goal scorers, with all four lines having a hand in at least one goal. Eleven players recorded at least one point in the win.

"It's good because we haven't been scoring," Panthers coach Paul Maurice told the team's website. "No matter what, players want to score goals. It makes you feel good. Everybody that gets a point gets to leave the rink with a win and a point and they have a smile on their face."

The Panthers have won two straight and three of four games after a pedestrian few weeks.

Perhaps no player on the team needed a goal more than Sam Bennett, who snapped a 20-game drought 19 seconds into the third period to break open what was a 3-2 game.

While the Panthers have been relying heavily on their top line of Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and captain Aleksander Barkov -- who netted his 750th career point -- and received contributions of late from the third line of Carter Verhaeghe, Anton Lundell and Jesper Boqvist, Bennett and his linemates have struggled the past while.

Bennett said adding Mackie Samoskevich to his line that also includes Eetu Luostarinen has created an effective trio.

"I really like playing with him," Bennett said of Samoskevich. "He's got a lot of jump in his game and a lot of confidence. I think the more we play together, the more we're going to build that chemistry."

--Field Level Media