LOS ANGELES — Artemi Panarin is a Los Angeles King.
The star winger notched two assists in his LA debut, but his efforts weren’t enough to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights, who were without five Olympians: Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Noah Hanifin, Mitch Marner and Shea Theodore. Vegas won 6-4.
Despite thrusting together a mixed group of role-players and minor-league call-ups, Vegas gave the Kings early trouble and finished strongly. Quinton Byfield notched two goals for LA in an uncharacteristically high-producing game for the Kings’ offense, Adrian Kempe scored the second period’s lone goal and Brandt Clarke brought the Kings back within one late in the third period.
With Kevin Fiala out indefinitely, the Kings’ offense will need to find other ways to support itself. The defense also made defensive mistakes that helped the Golden Knights gather momentum down the stretch, making it too late for LA to fully come back.
Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner reported from Crypto.com Arena and talked about the game on Skate of Thrones, TOT’s Kings podcast. Listen below!