• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kings get by Panthers on Kopitar's late tally

Dec 3, 2010 - 8:11 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Anze Kopitar notched the game-winner late in regulation as Los Angeles nipped Florida, 3-2, at Staples Center.

Jarret Stoll and Peter Harrold also tallied for the Kings, who halted a four- game losing skid. Jonathan Quick got the win with 24 saves.

Michal Repik and David Booth scored for the Panthers, who have lost five of their last six. Tomas Vokoun allowed all three goals on 24 shots in the setback.

"We did a lot of things right, but that doesn't mean a lot in the standings," Florida head coach Peter DeBoer said.

Kopitar lit the lamp with 2:43 left in regulation to give the Kings a 3-2 edge. Dustin Brown took a shot from the right circle that knuckled in on Vokoun. The rebound slid to Kopitar, who didn't miss on the backhand for his ninth goal of the season.

"The whole team was good but the best players came through in the end. It was great to see the winning goal, seeing Kopitar finish it off," Kings head coach Terry Murray said.

Florida went with an extra attacker for the final 1:09 to no avail.

Stoll's tally just after the midway point of the first period gave the Kings a lead, but it only lasted a little more than three minutes before Repik scored on a rebound for the Panthers.

Florida took a 2-1 lead with 4:09 left in the second when Booth uncorked a wrister from the right circle.

Harrold evened things once more at 2:36 of the third period.

Game Notes

Los Angeles has won six in a row over Florida since a 5-2 Panthers victory on November 27, 2002...LA has also taken eight of the last 11 meetings...Both clubs are back in action on Saturday with the Panthers concluding their four- game road swing at Phoenix and the Kings working through their three-game homestand by welcoming Detroit.