LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Kings scored twice in the third period to pull away from the Minnesota Wild for a 4-2 victory on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. After a scoreless first period, the Kings built a 2-0 lead in the second on goals from Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala. Jared Spurgeon put Minnesota on the board in the third, but Andrei Kuzmenko answered for Los Angeles just over two minutes later. Ryan Hartman brought the Wild back within one before Adrian Kempe sealed the win with an empty-net goal for the Kings. Los Angeles goaltender Darcy Kuemper earned the win. The Kings improved to 18-23, while the Wild fell to 25-19. The teams split the two-game set after Minnesota’s shootout win here on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A dominant third-period surge propelled the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, exacting a measure of revenge after a shootout loss to the same opponent just two days prior. The Kings, who entered the final frame locked in a scoreless tie, erupted for four goals while stifling a late Minnesota rally to improve their season record to 18-23. The Wild, who scored both of their goals in the final period, fell to 25-19. The game was a goaltending duel for the first 40 minutes, with Los Angeles’ Darcy Kuemper and Minnesota’s Filip Gustavsson turning aside all comers. Kuemper, the veteran from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was particularly sharp early, making 14 saves in a first period that saw the Wild control significant stretches of play. His best sequence came during a Minnesota power play in the first, where he denied consecutive high-danger chances from Mats Zuccarello and Joel Eriksson Ek. The stalemate was finally broken early in the second period. Los Angeles defenseman Brian Dumoulin, a steady presence from Biddeford, Maine, held the line and fired a slap shot that was deftly tipped in front by Warren Foegele. The goal, Foegele’s sixth of the season, was assisted by Dumoulin and Jeff Malott at the 10:34 mark. The Kings doubled their lead late in the middle frame with a textbook power-play conversion. With Andrei Kuzmenko in the box for tripping, Los Angeles’s top unit went to work. Kevin Fiala, stationed at the point, sent a shot toward the net that was expertly redirected by Kuzmenko, who had just exited the penalty box, past Gustavsson. The goal, Kuzmenko’s ninth, was assisted by Fiala and Alex Turcotte with just 25.2 seconds remaining in the period, sending the Kings to the intermission with a 2-0 advantage and considerable momentum. Minnesota refused to capitulate and cut the deficit in half midway through the third. Defenseman Jared Spurgeon, the Wild captain from Edmonton, Alberta, unleashed a slap shot from the point that found its way through traffic, beating Kuemper for his fourth goal of the year at 15:55. Jonas Brodin and Nico Sturm earned the assists. Any hope of a Wild comeback was extinguished just over two minutes later. Kuzmenko struck again, this time at even strength, taking a feed from Dumoulin and snapping a quick wrist shot from the slot to restore Los Angeles’s two-goal cushion at 17:20. The Wild responded quickly, with Ryan Hartman converting a sharp-angle shot just 1:21 after Kuzmenko’s goal, making it 3-2 and setting up a tense finish. Spurgeon and Brock Faber assisted on Hartman’s 10th of the season. With Gustavsson pulled for an extra attacker, the Kings iced the game with an empty-net goal. Adrian Kempe, from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, sealed the victory with his 15th goal of the campaign, assisted by Alex Laferriere and Quinton Byfield at 19:21. Kuemper finished with 32 saves to earn the win, while Gustavsson made 29 stops in the losing effort. The Kings’ penalty kill was perfect, negating all three Minnesota opportunities, while their power play converted one of its four chances. The game was a physical affair, featuring eight total penalties. Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty was called for interference in the first period, while teammates Kuzmenko, Byfield, Kempe (twice), and Mikey Anderson also took minors. Minnesota’s infractions included a double-minor for roughing by Danila Yurov and a hooking call against the same player. The victory gives Los Angeles a split in the two-game home set against Minnesota after the Wild’s 5-4 shootout win on Saturday. It also defied the pregame projections from National Statistical, which had given Minnesota a 51.2% probability to win and projected a 3-2 Wild victory. The combined six total goals went under the betting over/under line of 5.5. Los Angeles looks to build on the win when it hosts the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. Minnesota continues its road trip with a visit to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.

Preview: Surging Wild Visit Struggling Kings in Monday Night NHL Clash LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The surging Minnesota Wild will look to continue their climb up the standings when they visit the struggling Los Angeles Kings on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Wild (25-17-0) enter on a strong run, having won seven of their last 10 games, including a decisive 5-2 road victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. Center Yakov Trenin, a key player to watch for Minnesota, contributed a goal and an assist in that win and has recorded five points in his last four games. In contrast, the Kings (16-23-0) have lost eight of their last 10 and are coming off a 5-3 home loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on New Year’s Day. Veteran forward Corey Perry, who will be in focus for Los Angeles, notched three assists in that contest and has four points in his last five games, though his physical play has also resulted in 23 penalty minutes over that span. This matchup is the third meeting between the teams this season. They played to a scoreless tie just two days prior on Saturday, Jan. 3, also in Los Angeles. Their first encounter on Oct. 13 saw the Wild edge the Kings 4-3 in a shootout in Minnesota. The Wild’s offense has been potent, averaging over four goals per game during their recent successful stretch. Defenseman Quinn Hughes orchestrated the attack against Anaheim with four assists. The Kings, meanwhile, have been outscored 34-22 during their 2-8 slide and will need to tighten their defense to contain Minnesota’s momentum. Following this game, the Wild continue a four-game road trip Thursday in Seattle. The Kings remain at home to host the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST.