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Kings-Panthers Preview

Nov 15, 2009 - 8:54 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (12-7-2) at Florida (7-9-1), 7:30 p.m. EDT

After a strong start to the season, the Los Angeles Kings have been struggling to score.

Whether the Kings get back on track offensively may depend on how the inconsistent Tomas Vokoun performs when Los Angeles concludes a five-game road trip against the Florida Panthers on Monday night.

Behind NHL points leader Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles (12-7-2) averaged 3.5 goals during a 10-4-2 start, but scored eight times in losing three of the next five.

The Kings defeated woeful Carolina 5-2 on Wednesday night, but were routed 7-0 by Atlanta on Friday. Los Angeles managed to overcome its offensive problems the next night and defeat Tampa Bay 2-1 in a shootout.

Jon Quick, pulled in the second period against the Thrashers, made 28 saves and stopped all three shootout attempts in Saturday's victory.

"That felt great," said Quick, who has never faced the Panthers. "(Friday's) game was a rough one, so it was great to see the way the team battled back the night after on the road. Everyone just dug in deep and played a great game."

Kopitar's goal drought reached a season high-tying three games Saturday, but he had the lone shootout score and added an assist for his 31st point in 21 contests.

"I think everybody was just competing a lot harder," Kopitar said. "We were winning loose puck battles and everybody played for each other."

Kopitar has 14 goals and could take over the league lead Monday, but that might be tough if Vokoun continues to show the form that allowed him to post three shutouts in his last five starts.

The Panthers goaltender, however, gave up seven goals in the other two games of that stretch, the most recent a 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders on Saturday.

Vokoun allowed the Islanders to score twice in the first 4:29 and gave up two more goals in a 4:47 span of the third period after Florida (7-9-1) had taken a two-goal lead. He bounced back by stopping the final three attempts in a four-round shootout.

"The result was the most important thing," Vokoun said. "I think we played good for part of this game, but we have to do it for 60 minutes."

The Panthers, looking for their sixth win in eight contests, will also be trying to break a four-game skid to the Kings that dates to Oct. 5, 2003. Los Angeles outscored Florida 16-5 in that stretch.

Vokoun allowed a pair of first-period goals in the most recent meeting with Los Angeles, a 3-2 defeat last Nov. 6 that was his third straight to the Kings. Vokoun is 4-10-1 with a 2.89 ERA in 17 games versus Los Angeles.

Florida hasn't faced Los Angeles at BankAtlantic Center since Feb. 3, 2007. Its last home win versus the Kings came Oct. 26, 2001.

The Panthers, who have posted consecutive shootout victories, allowed at least four goals in four of their last five home games.