Wild Use Early Goals to Beat Kings 3-1 for 5th Straight Win

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild blitzed the Los Angeles Kings with three goals in a span of just over three minutes in the first period and held on to win 3-1 for their fifth straight victory.

Kirill Kaprizov, Nick Bjugstad and Joel Eriksson Ek scored for the Wild, who ended the Kings’ six-game winning streak.

Minnesota’s last loss was to the Kings in Los Angeles on Feb. 16. That was Minnesota’s first game back after a two-week layoff due to COVID-19 protocols.

Cam Talbot stopped 27 shots for the Wild and held the Kings scoreless until Jeff Carter’s goal late in the third period.

The Wild are second in the NHL's 2021 COVID-modified Western Division, just a point behind first the first place Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Wild and Golden Knights have a pair of games coming up this Monday and Wednesday in Las Vegas.

NHL Western Division Standings

1. Las Vegas Golden Knights (23 points)
2. Minnesota Wild (22 points)
3. St. Louis Blues (22 points)
4. Colorado Avalanche (21 points)
5. Los Angeles Kings (21 points)
6. Arizona Coyotes (21 points)
7. San Jose Sharks (16 points)
8. Anaheim Ducks (16 points)

Joel Eriksson Ek is Minnesota's leading goal scorer so far this season with seven, followed by Kevin Fail with six, and Kirill Kaprizov & Victor Rask with five each.

The Minnesota Wild host the Los Angeles Kings again tonight at an empty Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul as part of a modified Hockey Day Minnesota. The puck drops at 7:00 PM CT, and can be heard in the Saint Cloud area on 1240 AM/95.3 FM WJON.