Just another quick preview for you all today, with the weird start time being the culprit. The Cats will attempt to bounce back from a tough loss to the Phoenix Coyotes, a game in which the Panthers once again found themselves in an early deficit thanks to penalty trouble, and couldn’t climb out against a very strong defensive team. If the Panthers were able to eliminate the early mistakes and give the type of effort they gave against the Coyotes, they could’ve just as easily walked away with a win rather than a loss. Alas, same shtick, different day.
The Kings are going to be a much tougher opponent than Phoenix, going 7-3 in their last ten games and generally playing a stifling brand of hockey. Yes, the Kings are 28th overall in scoring in the league, but they are 1st in goals against, thanks to a very solid defensive system complimented by their lineup. Oh, and that Quick guy is pretty good I’ve heard. Florida will have to avoid the same trap they fell into against the Coyotes and not fall behind early, because they literally will have to get lucky to pull themselves back into the game. Luckily for Florida, the Kings can’t score much on the power play, but they are playing against the Panthers, who have the lowest-ranked PK in the entire NHL. Yuck.
Expect to see Roberto Luongo vs. Martin Jones in net for this tilt; game time is at 4PM EST, so make dinner early. Our excellent west coast sister site, Jewels from the Crown, will have your Kings coverage, and our lovable LBC GameThread will be up just before the puck drops. Stay awhile and listen!