(SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Kings will try to pick up their first road win in over a month when they visit the Florida Panthers for Thursday's clash at BB&T Center.
The Kings have lost the first two tilts of a five-game swing and are 0-3-0 on the road since posting a win at Vancouver on New Year's Day. The defending Stanley Cup champions are just 5-11-6 as the visiting team this season after posting identical 23-14-4 records at both home and on the road in 2013-14.
After dropping a 3-1 decision Saturday in Boston, the Kings fell 4-0 in Tuesday's matchup against the Washington Capitals. Braden Holtby made 27 saves to blank Los Angeles, which was shut out for the fifth time this season and for the first time since losing 1-0 at Buffalo on Dec. 9.
Jonathan Quick allowed all four goals on 27 shots for the Kings, who have lost six of their last seven overall and currently sit five points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
"We made too many mistakes in this game," said Los Angeles head coach Darryl Sutter. "When you go into the third down 2-0 that's a tough task in this building."
L.A. will continue its trek with Saturday's tilt in Tampa before capping the road trip Monday in Columbus.
Quick is 5-1-0 with a 1.74 goals against average in his career against Florida and is expected to start tonight.
The Kings have dominated Florida in recent years, taking three straight and 10 of 11 in the series. The Panthers have lost four of five as the host against L.A.
The Panthers recently salvaged the finale of a road trip with Tuesday's win over the New York Islanders and hope to make it two victories in a row tonight when they play the first of three straight at home.
Florida, which is seven points out of a playoff berth in the East, won for only the second time in nine games with the 4-2 win over the Isles. Jimmy Hayes potted a pair of goals, including the go-ahead score 2:10 into the third period, to lead the Panthers to the much-needed 4-2 victory at Nassau Coliseum.
Al Montoya stopped 32 shots to help the Panthers win after losing its previous two games against New Jersey and the New York Rangers. Brandon Pirri also contributed a goal and an assist to Tuesday's win. He has notched a goal in three straight games and has eight markers this season.
Florida had gone 1-6-1 over its previous eight games and was outscored by a 9-4 margin in its recent road setbacks to the Devils and Rangers.
"We lost two games in a row so we had to salvage something from this trip," Panthers head coach Gerard Gallant said. "This was a big win against a very good team."
Roberto Luongo is expected to start tonight in net. The veteran owns a 14-13-5 record with a lifetime 2.46 GAA versus the Kings.
The Panthers are 10-8-4 as the host this season and will continue their stay in South Florida with Sunday's tilt against Nashville.
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