SUNRISE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Florida Panthers defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in a National Hockey League game Wednesday night at Amerant Bank Arena. Sam Bennett scored the decisive goal just 10 seconds into the third period, deflecting a Brad Marchand pass to break a 2-2 tie. Carter Verhaeghe and Anton Lundell also scored for Florida, which rallied from an early deficit. Joel Armia and Kevin Fiala scored for the Kings. Goaltender Daniil Tarasov made 27 saves for the Panthers, who have won three straight. The Kings have lost three consecutive games. Attendance was announced at 19,612.

SUNRISE, Fla. (Interstat) — Sam Bennett’s deflection goal just 10 seconds into the third period broke a tie and Daniil Tarasov made 27 saves as the Florida Panthers held off the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 on Wednesday night at Amerant Bank Arena. The Panthers, winning their third straight, erased an early deficit with two second-period goals before Bennett’s quick strike in the final frame provided the decisive margin. The victory improved Florida to 18-15, while the Kings fell to 14-19 with their second consecutive loss. A crowd of 19,612 saw the Kings strike first on a power play late in the opening period. With Florida’s Sam Bennett serving a double-minor for high-sticking, Los Angeles capitalized after sustained pressure. Joel Armia tipped a Brandt Clarke point shot past Tarasov at the 13:39 mark for his eighth goal of the season, with Alex Laferriere earning the secondary assist. Los Angeles carried that 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but the Panthers seized control in the middle frame with a pair of goals 10 minutes apart. Carter Verhaeghe tied the game at 1-1 at 14:04 of the second, firing a wrist shot from the right circle for his 11th goal of the year. Defenseman Jeff Petry and Brad Marchand, who had a strong two-way game, recorded assists on the play. Just over four minutes later, Anton Lundell gave Florida its first lead. Stationed in front of the net, Lundell deftly redirected an Aaron Ekblad shot from the point past Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg at 18:10 for his 11th goal, with Mackie Samoskevich also assisting. The Kings’ momentum from a strong start seemed to evaporate in the second, and the Panthers delivered a crushing blow immediately after the third-period faceoff. On the opening shift, Marchand won a puck battle along the boards and sent a pass toward the net, where Bennett got his stick on it for a deflection that fooled Forsberg. The goal, Bennett’s 11th, was officially scored just 10 seconds into the period, stunning the Kings and energizing the home crowd. Los Angeles pushed back, cutting the deficit to one goal at 12:48 of the third. Kevin Fiala collected a loose puck in the high slot and whipped a shot through traffic that found its way past Tarasov for his 12th goal of the season, making it 3-2. The Kings pressed for the equalizer late, pulling Forsberg for an extra attacker with under two minutes to play. They generated several scrambles and a last-second flurry, but Tarasov and the Panthers’ defense held firm. The Los Angeles attack was led by Laferriere, who registered a game-high five shots on goal. Tarasov was steady throughout for Florida, particularly in the first period when Los Angeles generated several high-quality chances. His best sequence came early, denying Corey Perry on back-to-back backhand attempts and a follow-up poke check from Armia during a frantic scramble. Forsberg stopped 34 shots in the losing effort for the Kings. The game was a penalty-filled affair, with the teams combining for seven infractions. Los Angeles’s Joel Armia took two minors in the first period, while Florida’s Bennett and Lundell also spent time in the box. The Kings finished 1 for 4 on the power play, while the Panthers were 0 for 3. The result continued a recent trend for both teams. Florida has now won five of its last seven games, solidifying its position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. For Los Angeles, the loss extends a difficult stretch; the Kings have now dropped eight of their last 11 contests as they struggle to find consistency. The game’s outcome aligned with the projection from National Statistical’s game simulator, which had forecast a 3-2 Florida victory. The Panthers’ ELO probability to win was 64.70%, and they covered the pregame spread of -1.5. The total of five goals went under the over/under line of 5.5. The Kings face a quick turnaround, traveling to Tampa Bay to play the Lightning on Thursday night. The Panthers continue a brief homestand, hosting the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.

Preview: Kings Visit Panthers in Cross-Conference Matchup SUNRISE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Kings look to halt a recent slide when they visit the Florida Panthers in a cross-conference NHL matchup Wednesday night at Amerant Bank Arena. The Kings (14-17-0) have lost three of their last four, including a 2-1 overtime defeat to Calgary on Saturday. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper, a key player to watch, was stellar in that loss, making 36 saves on 38 shots. Over his last nine starts, Kuemper is 3-6-0 with a .925 save percentage, including a 23-save shutout of Chicago on Dec. 6. His performance will be critical against a Panthers offense finding its rhythm. The Panthers (16-15-0) enter on a high note after a decisive 4-0 road win over Dallas on Saturday. Veteran forward Brad Marchand led the charge with two goals and an assist. Marchand has been productive lately, recording six points (three goals, three assists) in his last five games. His agitating style and offensive surge will challenge a Kings team allowing 3.1 goals per game. Florida holds the season series edge, having defeated Los Angeles 5-2 at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 6. The Panthers have won four of their last six overall, showcasing an offense that has scored four or more goals in four of those contests. Los Angeles, struggling to find consistent scoring beyond its top line of Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, will need secondary contributions. The Kings are 1-2-0 on their current road trip. The Panthers continue a four-game homestand, seeking to build momentum before a heavy holiday schedule. Following this game, Los Angeles travels to Tampa Bay on Thursday, while Florida hosts Carolina on Friday. Projected starting goaltenders: Kings’ Darcy Kuemper (8-11-0, 2.87 GAA) vs. Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (12-9-0, 2.65 GAA). Bobrovsky is coming off a 15-save shutout against Dallas. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.