Looking at the standings, Friday night’s matchup in Florida might not have lined up as a ‘big game’ for Los Angeles, yet it was. The Kings are in the middle of a (ridiculously) long road trip and they were taking on a Panthers team that is deeply talented; a group far better than their 23-21-6 record would suggest.
Coach Todd McLellan had a difficult choice coming in, as well. With back-to-back games this weekend, he will likely be splitting starts for his two goaltenders. Should he start Jonathan Quick vs. the Panthers and Pheonix Copley vs. the Lightning, or vice versa? In the end, Copley got the nod and made a career-high 45 saves to earn his 15th win of the season.
Anze Kopitar provided the first of LA’s four goals on the night. It came on another beautiful pass from Quinton Byfield. That line, along with Adrian Kempe, have been clicking throughout the road trip and now they’re starting to get rewarded on the scoresheet, as well. Later in the first period, Kempe added a shorthanded goal – the first of two Kings shorties on the evening. LA’s power play went on to kill all five man-advantage opportunities for the Panthers.
Up 3-2 entering the third period, the Kings were able to hold the lead and eventually add an insurance goal in the closing minutes, when Matt Roy scored an empty netter at 18:58. However, things ended with a flurry of action and intensity, as the Panthers pulled back within one goal at 19:26. Despite Florida playing 6-on-5 for the balance of regulation, Copley and the Kings held on for a much-earned two points.
Three stats from the game:
– Kempe and Viktor Arvidsson scoring shorthanded goals marked the 23rd time in franchise history multiple shorthanded goals had been scored in the same game. It last occurred on Nov. 3, 2018 vs. Columbus, when Kopitar and Dustin Brown had shorties vs. the Blue Jackets.
– Kempe also became the fifth Kings player in the past 10 years to record consecutive 20-goal campaigns. He joins Jeff Carter (2012-13 – 2016-17), Kopitar (2017-18 – 2019-20), Brown (2017-18 – 2018-19) and Tyler Toffoli (2014-15 – 2015-16) in that club.
– With his 20th career NHL point coming via an assist to Kopitar, Byfield (20 years, 161 days) is the second Kings player in the past 10 years to hit that mark at age 20 or younger. Arthur Kaliyev did it in 2021 at 20 years and 253 days (per NHL PR).
Below are select highlights from Friday night’s game:
Additional Post-Game Notes:
https://twitter.com/BallySportWest/status/1619169785849290753
Todd McLellan won his 556th career game as an NHL head coach tonight, tying Marc Crawford for the 23rd-most wins by a head coach in league history. It also marked his 122nd win the LA Kings, tying Larry Robinson for fifth-most in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/9Aw3x0kt4O
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) January 28, 2023
#GoKingsGo
Postgame in FLA
1.27.2023@AnzeKopitar to @byfield55 — "Come on, kiddo!" pic.twitter.com/QwzlJDucw4— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 28, 2023
A few postgame thoughts from @Turcotte__71… pic.twitter.com/P7zqMeU9ls
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 28, 2023
McLellan on 11 + 55 pic.twitter.com/aamwTP4U4l
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 28, 2023
Just a reminder:
Make sure you know what you're looking at… pic.twitter.com/sXEasXYvJI
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) January 28, 2023
Lead photo via NHL
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