Back-to-back OK for Kings
They win for first time in three games as Quick stops 31 shots and defenseman Martinez atones for Sunday gaffe by scoring the winning goal.
SUNRISE, Fla. — In this case, games on consecutive days may have been the ideal cure for the Kings.
Look at it this way: Kings goalie Jonathan Quick had only a day to ponder being pulled after 40 minutes. Kings defenseman Drew Doughty could regroup and move on after continued residence in the penalty box. And Kings defenseman Alec Martinez got a chance to write a different ending after his own goal on Sunday.
Martinez nicely crafted one by scoring the game-winning goal at 17:16 of the second period as the Kings beat the Florida Panthers, 3-1, on Monday night at BB&T Center. It was their first win in three games, coming one day after a one-goal loss at Carolina.
“I’m just happy I was able to put it in the right one,” said Martinez, who was teased by a teammate about scoring a “second-game winner” in a row.
“It was a good play by [Jordan Nolan] and [Kyle
Clifford] there. I just saw an opportunity to jump up there in the rush and every once and awhile you get a gratuitous bounce like that.”
Quick made 31 saves and was resolute when the Panthers pushed back in the second and third periods and with a serious late flurry. Florida outshot the Kings, 28-13, through the final 40 minutes.
“That’s every night. Quickie’s the best goalie in the world,” Martinez said. “He never quits on pucks. He’s always staying in the battle, staying in the fight.”
Said Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo, who replaced an injured Al Montoya only 8:38 into the game: “I thought we played a decent second period. Obviously tough to come back from down two goals every night in the third.
“…Once they got the third one, they’re a veteran team. They’ve won. They know how to protect the lead. It’s tough to come back against a team like that.”
Kings right wing Tyler Toffoli opened the scoring at 7:47 of the first period with his 11th goal of the season. The Kings’ other goal came in transition and featured the creative playmaking ability of center Anze Kopitar and the speed of his linemate Marian Gaborik, who was able to finish to make the score 3-1 at 1:05 of the third period.
“I got the puck in the defensive zone and I saw Gabby had some speed. I was thinking of different ways to give it to him,” Kopitar said. “I guess the play that came to mind was to get over the top and lay it there for him. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t too much on the outside so the guy couldn’t cut it off.”
The chemistry between Kopitar and Gaborik has been fleeting this season because Gaborik has visibly struggled during the first quarter. This was his third goal in 21 games and fifth point of the season.
Could this serve to jumpstart Gaborik?
“I hope so. Definitely,” Gaborik said. “It’s great to contribute offensively, just gotta keep skating and try to be in the offensive zone and keep going to the net. I saw him get the puck and I just tried to get going.
“He [Kopitar] made a nice play off the wall. Got ahead of the guy and went against the grain on Luongo.”
The Kings made a point in their meetings of emphasizing a quick start. They led, 1-0, after one period and outshot the Panthers, 18-4.
Kings Coach Darryl Sutter returned to his theme from Sunday, addressing their goaltending on this trip. He brought it up when asked about the games on back-to-back days, giving the team a chance to quickly reset after the problems at Carolina.
“We haven’t played any bad games on this trip,” he said. “In Detroit, we damn near tied it up and we probably deserved better last night. We need some more saves. At the end of the day, not winning on the road, you have to shut some guys down and to do that you need great goaltending.”