Gameday Soundtrack: Like They Forgot About FLA

 
The last time the LA Kings played the Florida Panthers, Ben Scrivens, Matt Frattin, and Daniel Carcillo were still happening. Scrivens shut out the Panthers in their building, and Carcillo had the winning goal and a two-point game. Martin Frattin had power play time and won the one face-off he took. Ahhh, promising beginnings. How times have changed so quickly.

The Kings were having an okay start to their season back in October, but they’re doing even better now. They’ve won 6 of 9 games played in March so far, and they’ve won 8 of their last 11 since coming back from the break. Carcillo’s with the NY Rangers, Scrivens is with the Edmonton Oilers, and Matt Frattin’s stewing with the Columbus Blue Jackets after being traded for Marian Gaborik, who’s settling into playing Anze Kopitar’s real nice so far.

 
This game won’t be exactly like last time, because the Panthers have acquired some interesting new faces as well. Well, reacquired in the case of goaltender Roberto Luongo, who was freed from Vancouver’s sinking ship just before the trade deadline.

The Panthers also got Brandon Pirri from the Chicago Blackhawks, a young player who was probably good enough to take Michal Handzus’ job as second line center but was sent south for a bag of pucks instead.

Luongo has stopped 72 of 76 shots in his last two starts. Pirri has six points in his last 5 games with Panthers including a goal and assist in the Panthers’ surprising 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

 
But let’s not fool ourselves, the Kings are the stronger team. The Panther have been pulling together pieces that could add up to interesting things for them in the future, but the Kings need to put together as many wins as they can to clinch their playoff spot in the present.

Gaborik has four points in four games, and Kopitar has scored three goals in the Kings’ last five. Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli have been heating up lately and have both notched goals within the last three games. Like last time, the Kings need to just let themselves be the better team, shut down the Panthers and grab two more important points in the standings.