Sergei Bobrovsky delivered a stellar performance with a 30-save shutout, and Matthew Tkachuk notched a goal and two assists as the Florida Panthers blanked the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 on Wednesday night. The victory marked Bobrovsky’s second shutout of the season and the 46th of his career, helping Florida stay in the race for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett also found the back of the net for the Panthers (30-19-3), who entered the night just one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the division. The win also served as payback for Florida, which had fallen 2-1 to the Kings in Los Angeles just eight days prior.
On the other end, Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper was tested often and made 36 saves, but it wasn’t enough to snap Los Angeles recent struggles. The Kings (26-16-6) have now lost three straight and seven of their last ten games, with eight of those contests coming on the road.
Kings veteran defenseman Drew Doughty made his long-awaited season debut after missing the first 47 games with a broken ankle suffered in the preseason. He logged approximately 24 minutes of ice time, showing his usual poise and experience, but his presence wasn’t enough to turn around the Kings recent slide.
Matthew Tkachuk recorded his seventh multi-assist game of the season, adding to his already impressive campaign. His two assists bumped his season total to 31, proving once again how valuable he is to Florida’s offensive success.
Leading 1-0 early in the third period, the Panthers capitalized on a two-man advantage. Aleksander Barkov struck 4:43 into the frame, doubling Florida’s lead and notching his 16th power-play point of the season. That goal provided much-needed breathing room and tilted the momentum heavily in the Panthers favor.
Dmitry Kulikov contributed an assist in the first period, marking a milestone in his career. The veteran defenseman played in his 1,000th NHL game, becoming the 13th player in Panthers history and the 402nd skater in league history to reach that benchmark.
The Kings will continue their Florida road trip with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, while the Panthers return to action Saturday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks.