Islanders Extend Point Streak to Five Games in Match Against Kings

Artemi Panarin Scores Two Goals as Los Angeles Kings Face New York Islanders

Artemi Panarin scored twice in the first period for the Los Angeles Kings in a matchup against the New York Islanders, who extended their point streak to five games with a record of 3-0-2. Goaltender Semyon Varlamov stopped 24 shots for the Islanders, including a crucial penalty shot save that kept them in the game against a defensively sound opponent.

Early Scoring Dominance by Panarin

Panarin opened the scoring at 5:51 of the first period, beating Varlamov on a rush from the right circle over the goaltender’s glove while Varlamov leaned toward a potential cross-ice pass. He struck again at 16:37 during a scramble near the crease. After Matthew Kessel blocked Panarin’s initial shot from the left circle, the rebound popped directly back to Panarin, who slipped it under Varlamov’s glove arm to push the lead to 2-0. Panarin has accumulated five points, consisting of three goals and two assists, over his past two appearances.

Even without those kind of points, I try every game to make a difference, Panarin said. Every game I work, and then thanks to my partners. Our line, I feel, hasn’t looked bad these past couple of games. Yeah, just have to try and keep working.

Coach Assesses Team Resiliency

The Islanders controlled the pace through the opening forty minutes before weathering a third-period push from the Kings. New York coach Peter DeBoer expressed satisfaction with his squad’s execution despite the late pressure.

I loved the first 40 minutes, and in the third they pushed back a little bit, DeBoer said. But the first 40 minutes, I mean, despite the scoreboard, I really liked how we played. I’m trying to think what we could have done better. You have to give them credit, they’re a good defensive team around their net. So, it was tough to get there, but I loved our resiliency in sticking with it, keeping the pressure on, and not getting frustrated. The penalty shot saved by ‘Varly’ was huge to keep us in that game, and it was a really important point for us against a tough team.

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