Kings’ streak ends
Minnesota dominates the first period with three goals and snaps L.A.’s six-game run of wins.
The Kings’ six-game win streak was the longest in the NHL this season, with the operative word being “was,” as they stumbled against the Wild 3-1 on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota.
The Wild got three goals from three different forward lines in a span of 3 minutes, 3 seconds in the first period, propelling them to their fifth consecutive victory. Minnesota’s last loss was to the Kings on Feb. 16 at Staples Center.
Forward Jeff Carter scored the Kings’ only goal late in the third period, and goalie Jonathan Quick made 27 saves.
Wild rookie winger Kirill Kaprizov, center Joel Eriksson-Ek and forward Nick Bjugstad scored for Minnesota. Cam Talbot made his first start in goal since Feb. 2, and he showed poise in his return with 27 saves.
“There was a lot of stuff that didn’t go the way we wanted it to go, and it’s all on us,” Kings center Anze Kopitar said. “We didn’t make any plays. Our passing was not very good. Just battles for the puck, they won them.”
Kaprizov flashed a bit of magic early in the first period, weaving and bobbing through defenders to open up a tight seam for his pass to Mats Zuccarello for a prime opportunity. Along with center Victor Rask, the Wild’s second line had been dominant in the previous three games, combining for six goals and 19 points.
The Kings then drew a penalty but did little with the power play. They were being out-shot 6-2 midway through the first, but then briefly tilted the ice in their favor. Then they appeared overmatched for the remainder of the frame, in which they were out-shot 16-7.
At the 12:33 mark, Kaprizov summoned his inner Pavel Datsyuk, another undersized Russian player with immense creativity and strength on the puck, turning in a superb individual effort.
Despite the Kings’ top defenseman Drew Doughty being draped over his back like a cape, Kaprizov fended off checks and protected the puck behind the net. He turned a pass off his backhand to the left point for a shot by defenseman Jonas Brodin. Kaprizov collected one rebound, fired and tracked down another. He cupped the puck on the heel of his stick and used the net to create space for a wraparound goal that he swept in despite Doughty hounding him effortfully.
“We didn’t respond well after the first one,” said Kings coach Todd McLellan, whose team hadn’t trailed in during any of its six consecutive wins. “We hadn’t had that feeling of falling behind in a long time.”
With 5:29 left in the first period, an unfavorable bounce cost the Kings as a dump in ricocheted off the lively end boards and then struck the side of the net, where Quick failed to control it. Bjugstad was zooming toward the goalmouth, and he lifted a backhand shot to stretch the Minnesota advantage to two goals.
A mere 65 seconds later, the Wild scored again. First, they hit the post, then their imposing top line went to work down low. Eriksson-Ek sent a shot from in tight that Quick turned aside, but then winger Jordan Greenway provided additional traffic for a second shot from the slot that Eriksson-Ek buried for a threescore lead.
Kaprizov continued to impress in the second period with his shot and his passing savvy.
“If he isn’t the top rookie in the league, he’s got to be one of the top two or three” McLellan said.