Three takeaways: Defensive battle magnifies impact of special teams struggles
Sam Reinhart scored again for Florida, but the Panthers came up empty on the power play despite five opportunities
The Florida Panthers saw their five-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday night in Los Angeles.
It was a game that had a very playoff-like feel to it, with both teams playing a tight-checking, defensive style that limited high-end opportunities around each squad’s respective goaltender.
Ultimately the Kings came out on top by a slim 2-1 margin, sending Florida to only its second regulation loss in nearly a month.
The Panthers will be right back at it on Friday night in Anaheim, the Cats’ first back-to-back set of the season, so let’s jump right into the takeaways from Thursday in LA.
Kings present similar challenge as Panthers
Florida and Los Angeles are teams that look to find success in similar ways. They limit opposing opportunities, create off transition and work you extremely hard in your own end.
After the Kings were able to take an early lead on Thursday, it took some time before the Panthers were able to regain their footing and begin playing the way they prefer.
It certainly didn’t help that the defensive-minded Kings were able to dig their heels in on home ice.
“I think we were trying to do a little bit too much,” Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said. “And give them credit, they bring that over to you, and that's what we try and bring out of other teams. I think they stuck to their game plan a little bit better earlier on, and then we simplified. That’s going to happen, as your natural tendency with the lead is going to be to sit back a little bit, so we were able to get on the forecheck a little bit more in the third period and find a little bit more success.”
Special teams a struggle
The Panthers have continued to get mixed results on special teams early in the season.
Thursday in LA, a rough night on both the power play and penalty kill would prove to be the difference in a one-goal loss.
After the Kings took a 2-0 lead on a power play goal late in the second period, they gifted Florida three straight power plays over the game’s final 25 minutes.
They maintained plenty of zone time and sent a few good looks on net, but Los Angeles’ excellent shot blocking and a solid night in goal from Cam Talbot left the Panthers with nothing but empty pockets.
“At the end of the day, if you go 0-for-5 on the power play – and we had 2:17 with an empty net, we consider that part of our power play – so you go 0-for-6 on that, and they were 1-for-2, and that’s the difference in the game,” Panthers Head Coach Maurice said.
Florida’s new dynamic duo
In the few weeks since Reinhart was moved up to play on the right wing of Panthers captain Sasha Barkov, the two have found some incredible chemistry.
Reinhart had already gotten his 2023-24 season off to a scalding start scoring-wise, and Barkov wasn’t that far behind him, but it was the production combined with the strong defensive numbers that really jumped off the page.
Now skating on the same line, along with forward Evan Rodrigues, the group is driving play at even strength and filling up the scoresheet at an impressive rate.
Barkov’s assist in LA was his ninth point in seven games, while Reinhart’s goal extended his current points streak to six.
He’s got 5 goals and 11 points over those six games.
“I think he and Barkov have got it going pretty good,” Maurice said. “There are different physical attributes that each has, but they both find each other.”
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