Knights fall to Panthers, continue to struggle during homestand

Danny Webster, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Nov 11, 2025

Published in Hockey

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The Golden Knights are in an early-season freefall.

A strong third period got the Knights back to within one goal and had a chance to tie late, but they lost their third straight game 3-2 to the Florida Panthers at T-Mobile Arena on Monday night.

Center Tomas Hertl and left wing Ivan Barbashev scored in the third period to get the Knights within a goal on two different occasions. Hertl scored 1:25 into the third to cut the deficit to 2-1, and Barbashev at 9:04 to make it 3-2.

But the Knights (7-4-4) couldn’t find the equalizer and dropped to 1-3-1 during a season-long six-game homestand.

Goaltender Carl Lindbom made 17 saves and dropped to 0-3-1 in his first four NHL starts. Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky finished with 30 saves for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

Bobrovsky had a 17-save shutout against the Knights in a 3-0 win in Sunrise, Florida, on Oct. 25.

The Knights were without center William Karlsson, who is day to day with a lower-body injury.

Center Brett Howden filled in for Karlsson on the third line. Right wing Alexander Holtz skated on the fourth line in his first game since Oct. 31.

It’s been a baptism-by-fire start to Lindbom’s NHL career. He’s faced dynamic offenses in Tampa Bay (twice), Colorado and now the defending champions.

The Panthers missing key players in captain Aleksander Barkov and right wing Matthew Tkachuk hasn’t mattered for the better part of two matchups. Florida has built through its depth and skating ability the past two seasons.

Lindbom looked shaky early but settled in, especially when the Panthers crowded the crease. But it was a long-range shot from Panthers left wing Jesper Boqvist that got past Lindbom with 5:13 left in the first period for the game’s first goal.

Well out of his crease, Lindbom had to hurry back but was caught in too much traffic on his way back to the blue ice.

The Knights had a twofold opportunity early in the second period — a chance to tie the game while gaining momentum with a power play that’s gone ice cold as of late.

Penalties from defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Niko Mikkola gave the Knights a five-on-three for 1:11.

They failed to get a shot off on the two-man advantage and were also called for offsides at the tail end.

A chorus of boos echoed when the Panthers returned to even strength.

Just over two minutes after the Panthers got the kill, they doubled their lead. Right wing Brad Marchand cut to the middle of the ice, deked by defenseman Kaedan Korczak and finished with the backhand to make it 2-0 at 10:54.

The Knights went on the power play less than a minute later after Hertl’s goal when defenseman Jeff Petry was called for interference. Once again, they failed to register a shot.

It also ended early when Holtz was called for high-sticking at 4:09. Florida took advantage with a power-play goal from right wing Sam Reinhardt 45 seconds later to make it 3-1.

The Knights are 3-for-29 on the power play dating back to Oct. 20.

Florida (8-7-1) defeated the Knights for the sixth time in the last seven regular-season meetings dating back to the 2023 season, when the Knights defeated the Panthers in five games to win the Stanley Cup.

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