Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40), Kings right wing Corey Perry (10) and Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) react as a shot from Kings right wing Joel Armia, not pictured, goes into the net for the Kings’ first goal during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, i n Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Kings’ Joel Armia, left, celebrates his goal with Brandt Clarke (92) and Corey Perry (10) during the first period of their game against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) reacts as Kings players celebrate the first goal of the game during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kings right wing Joel Armia (40) celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s first goal during the first period of their game against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kings right wing Joel Armia (40) earns a penalty for hooking against Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis (26) during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kings captain Anze Kopitar fires the puck at the net during the first period of their game against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis, right, clashes with Kings right wing Joel Armia (40) as Florida Panthers left wing Noah Gregor (18) looks on during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Florida Panthers fans react as Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) stops a shot as Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) and Kings left wing Warren Foegele (37) look on during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Kings’ Brandt Clarke gestures during the first period of their game against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Kings right wing Corey Perry (10) looks for a potential shot as Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov, left, and center Sam Reinhart, right, defend during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, right, tries to pass the puck while under pressure from Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Florida Panthers’ Luke Kunin (71) faces off against Kings captain Anze Kopitar (11) during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The Kings’ Brandt Clarke first the puck at the net during the first period of their game against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Kings left wing Trevor Moore, right, skates up the ice with the puck while defended by Florida Panthers defenseman Uvis Balinskis during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) skates down the ice past Kings defenseman Brian Dumoulin (2) on his way to scoring his team’s first goal during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) is congratulated by teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the second period of their game against the Kings on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) reacts after an unsuccessful scoring attempt as Florida Panthers center Luke Kunin (71) and center Jesper Boqvist (70) defend during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Florida Panthers’ Seth Jones, left, and Kings captain Anze Kopitar battle for the puck during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The Florida Panthers’ Luke Kunin (71) battles the Kings’ Samuel Helenius (79) in front of the Kings’ net during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The Florida Panthers’ Carter Verhaeghe (23) scores a goal past Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe, right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal, past the defense of Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) and defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Florida Panthers players celebrate their team’s second goal, scored by center Carter Verhaeghe, obscured, as Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson, left, gets up from the ice during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett (9) battles the Kings’ Corey Perry (10) in front of the Kings’ net during the second period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer, left, vies for the puck with Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer, left, falls to the ice as he pursues the puck alongside Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Florida Panthers’ Sam Bennett celebrates with teammates on the bench after he scored a goal during the third period of their game against the Kings on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The Florida Panthers’ Mackie Samoskevich (11) defends against a shot from the Kings’ Andrei Kuzmenko (96) during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) A shot by Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe, not pictured, gets past Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) for the team’s second goal, during the third period on Wednesday night in Sunrise, Fla. The Kings lost their fourth straight game, 3-2. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Florida Panthers’ Uvis Balinskis, right, and goaltender Daniil Tarasov defend against the Kings’ Alex Turcotte, center, during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, center top, reacts along with players and staff to a penalty call, during the third period of their game against the Kings on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Kings’ Trevor Moore controls the puck ahead of the Florida Panthers’ Jesper Boqvist, left, during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov, right, stops a shot while under pressure from Kings left wing Trevor Moore during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Kings’ Trevor Moore reacts after Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov made a save on him on a breakaway during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Kings head coach Jim Hiller talks to his players during the third period of their game against the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Kings left wing Trevor Moore, left, handles the puck as Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen defends during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) The Kings’ Trevor Moore controls the puck ahead of the Florida Panthers’ Jesper Boqvist, left, during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The Kings’ Andrei Kuzmenko reacts during the third period of their loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) Florida Panthers fans cheer as goaltender Daniil Tarasov denies the Kings as they push for a tying goal during the third period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Florida Panthers players celebrate after their 3-2 victory over the Kings on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett hands off his stick to a young fan after their 3-2 victory over the Kings on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Show Caption1 of 40Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40), Kings right wing Corey Perry (10) and Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling (42) react as a shot from Kings right wing Joel Armia, not pictured, goes into the net for the Kings’ first goal during the first period on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Expand SUNRISE, Fla. — A fortuitous bounce helped give the Kings a chance, but they couldn’t complete a comeback against the reigning champs. Sam Bennett scored 10 seconds into the third period, Brad Marchand had two assists and the Florida Panthers held on to beat the Kings, 3-2, on Wednesday night and sweep the two-game season series. Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe also scored for Florida (18-13-2), which has won six of its last seven games. Daniil Tarasov made 27 saves for the Panthers. He denied the Kings’ Trevor Moore on a pair of breakaways, the second one with 4:54 left to preserve a one-goal lead. Joel Armia and Kevin Fiala had the goals for the Kings (14-10-9), who have lost four straight (0-2-2). The four-game winless streak matches a season-worst slide for the Kings, who were 0-2-2 from Oct. 11 through Oct. 18 as well. Anton Forsberg stopped 25 shots for the Kings. Fiala cut the Kings’ deficit to 3-2 with 15:12 left in the third period thanks to a fortuitous bounce. A clearing attempt by Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling from near his own goal line deflected off of Fiala’s shin and went about 20 feet at a sharp angle toward the Florida net and past Tarasov. The Kings had a chance to tie the score in the final minutes, after Florida’s Anton Lundell was called for high-sticking with 3:05 left. The Kings managed only one shot on the ensuing power play – about half of which was with a two-man advantage after Forsberg was pulled for an extra attacker – and the Panthers held on from there. “It was a competitive game. When you play those guys, you’re going to be challenged physically,” Kings coach Jim Hiller told NHL.com. “I thought we were toe-to-toe with them and were down one when the whistle blows. … We hit three posts and missed three breakaways. There were some other chances from deflections, and we were around their net.” Florida has successfully killed off 29 of 31 penalties over nine games thus far in December, including three of four on Wednesday. “I thought it was good in the first, got away from us a bit in the second, and then obviously a rough start to the third,” Kings forward Alex Laferriere told NHL.com. “We responded well to that and took it to them a little bit in the third. Just have to bear down on our chances, try to score goals. We just can’t score goals right now so it’s frustrating, but it will show the resiliency of our group.” The first two goals of the game were nearly identical – deflections on the power play. The Kings scored first as Armia redirected a shot from Brandt Clarke with 6:21 left in the initial period. After the deflection, the puck dipped down and went between Tarasov’s pads. Florida tied the score with 17:46 remaining in the second as Lundell tipped in a shot by Aaron Ekblad. Had it not been for Lundell’s stick, Ekblad’s shot likely would have gone wide of the net. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champs took a 2-1 lead with 12:56 left in the second as Verhaeghe spun around and knocked in a rebound off the right leg of Kings defenseman Joel Edmundson. Jeff Petry earned the primary assist as it was his shot from the point that started the sequence. Florida wasted no time extending its lead to 3-1, scoring just 10 seconds into the third period. Marchand got the primary assist as his perfect pass connected with a charging Bennett, who tipped the puck to the short side of the net, past Forsberg. Bennett’s goal tied for the third-fastest to start any period this season. Kirill Marchenko scored for Columbus seven seconds into a second period against Minnesota on Oct. 11; the Ducks’ Jackson Lacombe scored nine seconds into a second period against Vancouver on Nov. 26; and Edmonton star Connor McDavid scored 10 seconds into a third period against Buffalo on Dec. 9. “Tonight, like in Dallas, thought were pretty solid games both nights,” Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson told NHL.com, referring to Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Stars. “But if you’re not getting points, it feels almost useless. No one is happy … if you don’t win, you don’t feel too happy about how you played. It’s one or two bounces, but we need those to go our way if we want to go where we want to go.” UP NEXT The Kings visit Tampa Bay on Thursday at 4 p.m. PT. 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