Andrei Kuzmenko Guides Kings to Victory Against Wild After Anze Kopitar Gets Injured
Kings Triumph Over Wild with 4-2 Victory
In an intense matchup on Monday night, the Los Angeles Kings secured a 4-2 victory against the Minnesota Wild, bolstered by a goal and an assist from Andrei Kuzmenko. The win marked the Kings’ second victory over the Wild in just three nights, contributing to an overall record of 4-6-2 in their last 12 games.
Joining Kuzmenko on the scoresheet were Warren Foegele, Kevin Fiala, and Adrian Kempe, while goaltender Darcy Kuemper turned away 33 shots. The Wild, who had been on a six-game point streak, saw their momentum halted despite a goal and an assist from Jared Spurgeon and an additional goal from Ryan Hartman. Filip Gustavsson, in net for Minnesota, recorded 29 saves.
The defeat was part of a challenging seven-game road trip for the Wild, now standing at 3-1-2, which wraps up Thursday against Seattle. They previously faced the Kings in a shootout loss on Saturday night.
Kings captain Anze Kopitar left the game in the first period due to a lower-body injury. Coach Jim Hiller reported no immediate updates on Kopitar’s condition, although he was observed leaving the dressing room without a noticeable limp.
The Kings dominated the second period, outshooting the Wild 16-8 and scoring twice. Foegele opened the scoring with a long shot from the blue line, and Fiala extended the lead shortly before the period ended, bringing his season total to 15 goals.
Minnesota responded in the third period when Spurgeon’s shot from the left point broke Kuemper’s shutout bid. Kuzmenko quickly regained the two-goal lead for the Kings before Hartman narrowed the gap with a power-play goal. Kempe secured the victory with an empty-netter in the final minutes.
The Kings will next play against San José to conclude their four-game homestand.
