Tkachuk's Late Winner Lifts Panthers Past Kings 2-1 as Marchand Exits Injured

Matthew Tkachuk delivered the decisive blow Tuesday night, finishing a rush set up by Sam Bennett's feed after a neutral-zone turnover and sliding the puck between Darcy Kuemper's pads from the left faceoff circle at 11:20 of the third period. The 2-1 win at Crypto.com Arena was Florida's first lead in regulation all season and closed out the Panthers' four-game season-opening road trip. The Kings struck first when Alex Laferriere swept home a loose puck at 19:00 of the opening period. Florida answered at 3:49 of the second, moments after Los Angeles failed to convert a 1:21 five-on-three power play: Lars Eller sent Seth Jones down the left side, and Jones beat Kuemper in close to level the score. But the victory came at a steep price. With 52.6 seconds left in the second period, Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke's high stick caught Brad Marchand, sending the 38-year-old twisting into the right post with his left leg buckling awkwardly underneath him. Marchand stayed down for several minutes before being helped off the ice by Brady Tkachuk and Niko Mikkola, unable to put any weight on the leg, and he did not return. Clarke was assessed a four-minute double minor. It was only Marchand's second game back after offseason surgery, and head coach Paul Maurice had no update afterward, saying only that he would be checked Thursday. The blow lands the same day Florida confirmed captain Aleksander Barkov will miss six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury, already on long-term injured reserve. Jacob Markstrom made 19 saves for the win; Kuemper stopped 26 for the still-winless Kings.