Adrian Kempe continued his hot streak by netting the game winner as the host Los Angeles Kings cued up a third-period comeback to claim a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.
Samuel Helenius scored his first NHL goal and Darcy Kuemper made 27 saves for the Kings, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Evan Rodrigues tallied for the Panthers, who lost for only the second time this season when leading after two periods (18-2-0). Florida goalie Spencer Knight stopped 26 shots.
With Los Angeles trailing 1-0 and struggling to gain offensive momentum, Helenius tied the game at 6:41 of the third period. A point shot was blocked in front of the net, but Helenius — the club’s 2021 second-round draft choice — was on the spot for the loose puck and chipped it into the net. The milestone goal came in the 22-year-old forward’s 25th NHL game.
Buoyed by that goal, the hosts carried the momentum and were rewarded when Kempe produced his fourth goal in as many outings at 13:12 of the final frame. While parked in front of the net, Kempe deflected Kevin Fiala’s point shot.
The four-game goal-scoring streak ties a career high Kempe has reached on four previous occasions.
Shots on goal in the third period at that point were 13-1 for the Kings.
The Panthers frantically pushed for the equalizer, but Kuemper delivered a couple of clutch stops, notably against Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk in the final seconds.
Florida, the defending Stanley Cup champions, had won three of four games heading into the clash.
After a scoreless first period, Rodrigues notched a power-play goal at 7:27 of the second period. Mackie Samoskevich sent a point shot wide of the net for Anton Lundell to corral after it caromed off the end boards. Lundell slipped a pass across the crease to set up Rodrigues for a tap-in tally.
It was Florida’s first man-advantage marker in five games.
–Field Level Media
