Recap: Panthers can’t catch up, fall 4-3 to Kings

Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty ImagesThe Florida Panthers fell behind early and ended up dropping a 4-3 decision to the Los Angeles Kings in the first game of an important five-game homestand.

Anze Kopitar opened the scoring at 13:25 by drifting into prime real estate in the slot, a stride ahead of Sam Reinhart, to finish off a sweet backhand pass from Quinton Byfield. Adrian Kempe got the secondary assist by outworking Anton Lundell and getting the puck down low to Byfield.

The Kings added on 4:33 later with some “help” from Reinhart again. With the Cats up a man, Reinhart’s ill-advised drop found Blake Lizotte, and he broke out the other way 2-on-1 with Kempe. Lizotte got his pass through…