LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings scored three goals in four minutes in the second period and rallied from behind to defeat the Florida Panthers 4-1 in a Saturday matinee performance at Staples Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Nick Bjugstad got the Panthers on the board with 10 seconds remaining in the first period. Bjustad was like a sniper, as his wrist shot zoomed past Quick's right shoulder and into the net.
The Kings would score a flurry of goals in the second period to take a stranglehold on the game. Jeff Carter scored his seventh of the season thanks to a terrific past by Tyler Toffoli.
A few minutes later, Drew Doughty lit the lamp with a slapshot from the left side of the ice for his first goal of the season.
The Kings made it three goals in four minutes when Anze Kopitar battled in front of the net, scoring on a backhander as the assistant captain would not be denied.
Milan Lucic gave the Kings first line their third goal of the game as the trio of Lucic, Toffli and Carter have been on fire to start the season.
TURNING POINT
Midway through the second period, the Kings committed back-to-back egregious penalties, giving the Panthers a 5-on-3 and a chance to break the game open. The Kings dug their skates into the ice and killed both penalties, igniting the sold out crowd at Staples Center and stealing the momentum.
MVP OF THE GAME
Tyler Toffoli. The 23-year-old youngster is used to putting pucks in the back of the net, but on Saturday he was serving them on plates for his teammates. Toffoli finished with two assists, giving him four on the year, to go with his nine goals (2nd in the NHL).
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STAT OF THE NIGHT
Anze Kopitar's second period goal was his 223rd of his career. Kopitar passed Charlier Simmer for seventh on the all-time LA Kings franchise goals list.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
@LAKings �� pic.twitter.com/A9aMTOthRF — Adrian (@GhostEye07) November 7, 2015
Please sir, I want some more.
PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Can you say "Yo Gabba, Gabba"?
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"Four times means something!" Cameron Diaz in Vanilla Sky
NOTES
Kings rookie Derek Forbot scored his first career NHL point with an assist on LA's first goal of the game.
Drew Doughty tied Lubomir Visnovsky for third on the Kings all-time Power Play Goals list for defenseman with his 31st career PPG.
RECORD
Kings 9-5-0 (4-1-0 on road) first place in Pacific Division.
Panthers (5-6-3) (2-4-2 on road) sixth place in Atlantic Division.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Panthers travel back to Florida where they hope some home cooking can get them back on track when they take on the Calgary Flames at the BB&T Center on Tuesday, Nov. 10th.
The LA Kings will also take the ice on Tuesday when they host the Arizona Coyotes at 7:30PM.
