Game 25: Kings 2, Panthers 1 (FINAL)

Welcome to December hockey, as the Kings host the Florida Panthers. All the action will be on Fox Sports West and on 1150-AM and affiliates, and all the game updates will be here as well…

THIRD PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Theodore.
Richards out: Mike Richards was not on the ice or bench at the start of the third period. No information on Richards’ status has yet been provided. Richards did not return after a hit late in the second period that led to Sean Bergenheim’s roughing penalty.
End of game: The Kings held on for the victory despite being outshot 41-26.

SECOND PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Quick vs. Theodore.
Mitchell update: The Kings announced only that Willie Mitchell has suffered a lower-body injury and is not expected to return to tonight’s game.
Kings 2, Panthers 0: After being badly outplayed for much of the period, the Kings took a 2-0 lead on a power-play goal with 5:47 remaining. Slava Voynov fed a long, accurate outlet pass to Brown, who skated in and beat Theodore with a wrist shot from the left circle. Jonathan Quick also got an assist, his second of the season.
Kings 2, Panthers 1: The Kings’ two-goal lead lasted just 1:26. Erik Gudbranson took a shot from the right point, and the puck hit traffic in front of the Kings’ net. Before the Kings could cover or clear the puck, Sean Bergenheim whacked at it in the slot and knocked it past Quick to narrow the Kings’ lead to 2-1 with 4:21 remaining in the period. Tomas Kopecky also got an assist.
End of period: The Kings managed to get through the period with the lead. The Panthers outshot the Kings 16-7 in the second period, and the Kings had a parade to the penalty box. The Panthers will be on the power play for the first 52 seconds of the third period.

FIRST PERIOD
In goal: It’s the Kings’ Jonathan Quick against the Panthers’ Jose Theodore.
Kings 1, Panthers 0: The Kings took the lead less than two minutes into the game. Jack Johnson took a D-to-D pass from Matt Greene, and Johnson’s point shot through traffic beat Theodore to give the Kings a 1-0 lead at the 1:35 mark. Anze Kopitar also recorded an assist.
Mitchell out: Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell played only one shift in the first period and was not on the bench during the period. No update on Mitchell has been provided yet.
End of period: The Kings got an early goal but didn’t generate much over the final 10 minutes of the period, and they were outshot 13-9. The Panthers will be on the power play for the first 1:46 of the second period.

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