LOS ANGELES — The Rangers got Artemi Panarin back from COVID-19 protocol but took on the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night in a half-empty Crypto.com Arena without their coach, Gerard Gallant, who entered COVID protocol Sunday, and grinding forward Barclay Goodrow, who entered protocol Monday, the team announced at the start of warmups.
With all the comings and goings, the Rangers put up a relatively meek performance for acting coach Kris Knoblauch and ended up losing, 3-1, in the third game of their five-game road trip.
Two goals within the first four minutes of the second period put the Kings (18-13-5) in control of the game until Mika Zibanejad’s deflection of a shot by Filip Chytil at 11:27 of the third period pulled them to within 2-1.