Florida @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 16, 2020 ) Los Angeles 3, Florida 4

With Monday’s trade deadline already bringing significant changes to the Los Angeles Kings, at least the team will enjoy the comforts of home as they host the Florida Panthers on Thursday in the first of five straight at Staples Center. The Kings traded two of their longest serving members this week as forward Tyler Toffoli (515 regular season games over eight seasons) was dealt to the Canucks on Tuesday and defenseman Alec Martinez (597 in 11 seasons) was sent to the Golden Knights on Wednesday.

The Kings look to be heading toward a last-place finish in the Western Conference and as trade rumors continuing to swirl, veteran forward Dustin Brown is making sure his team comes prepared to play. “We all understand where we are as a team, as an organization, what has to be done,” Brown told reporters after scoring a pair of goals Tuesday during a 6-3 loss to Winnipeg. “We get paid to play hockey. There are going to be ups and downs. I think emotionally it can drain you, but you’ve got to be able to focus.” The Panthers are looking to turn things around after securing two wins in nine games coming out of the All-Star break, but enter Thursday holding on to an Eastern Conference playoff position after a 4-1 triumph over Anaheim on Wednesday. Defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and center Vincent Trocheck each chipped in with a goal and an assist against the Ducks to help Florida win its second straight to open a five-game road trip after securing a 5-3 victory Monday in San Jose.

TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: FS Florida, FS West

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (32-22-6): Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was brilliant Wednesday in stopping 35-of-36 shots, but on the second night of a back-to-back is expected to hand the reigns over to Sam Montembeault, who carries an .875 save percentage and 3.68 goals against over his last six appearances. Forward Aleksi Saarela was called up from the American Hockey League prior to Wednesday’s contest and scored his first NHL goal on a team-high five shots in 13 minutes, 11 seconds of ice time. Left wing Jonathan Huberdeau increased his team-leading point total to 72 with his 51st assist of the season Wednesday while the eight-year veteran boasts a team-best plus-9 rating.

ABOUT THE KINGS (21-34-5): Captain Anze Kopitar has collected a pair of helpers in three straight games and leads the squad with 36 assists and 53 points while his 17 goals are tied with Jeff Carter for the top spot. Carter owns a team-high 182 shots on net but also a team-worst minus-21 rating while defenseman Matt Roy (plus-six) and right wing Carl Grundstrom (plus-two) are the only Kings players above even. Goaltender Jonathan Quick will get the nod Thursday after snapping a personal eight-game winless stretch during Saturday’s outdoor game against the Avalanche, as the 34-year-old has turned in a 1-7-1 record with a .908 save percentage and 2.82 goals against average since the beginning of January.

OVERTIME

1. Florida has the fourth-most goals scored (207) and is tied with the Senators for the fourth-most goals allowed (199).

2. The Kings are third in the league in shots on goal (33.8) but last in shooting percentage (7.3).

3. Montembeault made 23 saves during the 4-3 Panthers victory over the Kings on Jan. 16.

PREDICTION: Panthers 5, Kings 1