Panthers close road trip with 4-1 loss to Vegas

The Florida Panthers are heading home with a split of their four-game road trip after coming up empty on Sunday in Las Vegas.

Despite holding the advantage in shots on goal and scoring chances, Florida came up short where it counted, losing to the Golden Knights 4-1.

A strong start by Florida, particularly the first line, didn’t keep the Panthers from falling behind early.

Jesper Boqvist turned the puck over as he entered the Vegas zone, and Brayden McNabb fired a one-timer on the ensuing rush to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at the 5:26 mark on just their second shot of the game.

For much of the remainder of the opening period and into the second, Florida controlled the majority of the play.

That didn’t stop Vegas from taking a 2-0 lead 5:40 into the second on a rush goal by Tanner Pearson, catching Spencer Knight slightly off his angle.

Florida finally got on the board early in the third period after a great shift by a third line of Anton Lundell centering Eetu Luostarinen and Evan Rodrigues.

A long shot by Luostarinen was deflected by Lundell on the doorstep to cut Vegas’ lead to 2-1 just 1:56 into the final frame.

That would be as close as Florida would get though, as Jack Eichel scored on a breakaway with 8:29 to go, thwarting the Cats comeback attempt just as they had put several strong shifts together.

Tomas Hertl added a late empty netter to seal the deal for Vegas.

On to the Kings.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Lundell now has three goals and five points over his past six games.

Luostarinen’s assist on Lundell’s goal was his first helper in 19 games.

Knight finished with 21 saves, including on six of the seven high danger shots Vegas sent his way.

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