3 Takeaways From the LA Kings’ Home Opener

The Los Angeles Kings opened their home schedule Tuesday night against the 2024 and 2025 back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, but they came up just short in a 2-1 loss at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings entered the matchup with an all-time record of 27-17-4 against the Panthers, but they were unable to get their first win of the season after falling behind late in the third period. Despite the loss, there were several things to take away from the Kings’ home opener. Here are three key takeaways from Los Angeles’ 2-1 loss to Florida.

Physicality Stands Out

Don’t let the fact that the Kings are the oldest team in the league fool you. This is a team that can still bring plenty of physicality. Joel Edmundson showed that early, delivering a big hit on Florida forward Eetu Luostarinen, who was shaken up and needed immediate help from a trainer before returning to the game. The heavy play continued throughout the night, with the Kings making their presence felt.

Brandt Clarke also showed more of a physical edge, although his high stick on Brad Marchand late in the second period resulted in a four-minute double minor. Marchand went down awkwardly and needed help from a trainer before being helped off the ice by Brady Tkachuk and Niko Mikkola. The longtime NHL forward did not return to ice after his collision. One improvement I have noticed is their style of physicality has shifted under head coach Peter Laviolette, something that fits with the fast and aggressive style he has talked about implementing.

Scoring Must Remain Consistent

If the Kings want to make it past the first round of the playoffs (yes, the season just started, but still), they need to find better ways to score instead of just getting shots on net. Alex Laferriere scored the Kings’ first goal, while Darcy Kuemper made 26 saves in the loss. Matthew Tkachuk scored the game-winning goal for Florida with 8:40 left in regulation, giving the Panthers their first regulation win of the season.

From my perspective, this was a game the Kings had a good chance to win. The Kings had a two-man advantage late in the first period but couldn’t extend their 1-0 lead. Drew Doughty spoke about the loss saying, “You know, it was just a tough battle, and we just made a few more mistakes to give them opportunities, and they did.” He also acknowledged the changes that come with the new system, “I think we’ve adjusted to them pretty well, but there’s still room for improvement” (from ‘Kings give up late goal to Panthers, lose their home opener to remain winless,’ Los Angeles Times, Oct. 6, 2026).

Kuemper Kept Kings in the Game

Goaltending wasn’t the biggest concern for the Kings against Florida. Darcy Kuemper stopped 26 of 28 shots and gave his team a chance to win. He made several important saves throughout the game and kept the Kings within one goal. With Kuemper playing well, the Kings need to focus on scoring more and making fewer mistakes in front of him.

Overall Takeaway

The Kings showed that goaltending may not be a major concern after Kuemper put together a solid performance regardless of the outcome. Los Angeles was physical throughout the game and didn’t shy away from contact. However, the Kings need to find more ways to create chances on goal and make the most of their opportunities. They’ll need to stay out of the penalty box, but their physical play could be a big part of their game this season. If they can keep that physical edge while finding more offense, this team has a solid foundation to build on. The Kings will look to put it all together when they return home to take on Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 13.

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