LOS ANGELES-Minnesota was desperate to win two points and ruin the Kings run for a record. Matt Moulson and Mikko Koivu scored two goals early in the third to beat Los Angeles 3-2 at the Staples
Center Monday night. The Wild’s victory shattered the Kings six-game winning streak, as they attempted to break a 22-year-old record for the second time in March.
The Kings who are currently on cruise control into the playoffs, were still in shape to take on their next three opponents in order to break into nine straight wins this season. They showed how serious they were when Jeff Carter and Jake Muzzin smashed into Nino Niederreiter knocking him down and sending him back to the bench.
Martinez showed Minnesota the offensive side to their game, as he scored the opening goal giving him 11 on the year. A late pass from Anze Kopitar set up Martinez on the glove side giving him 39 assists. Jonathan Quick saved their lead on a Jason Pominville breakaway where he caught the puck into his glove. Both teams took eight shots on goal, but with LA out ahead early it was a good way to start it off.
Minnesota came out in the second in every attempt to even the game up with the Kings. They did so with a power play, where Zach Parise scored on a tip in from Koivu’s drive that hit the stick and went behind Quick for his 28th. Kyle Brodziak failed on an open shot that hit the crossbar while the net was empty. Quick wouldn’t make that mistake again as he blocked another from Brodziak and Justin Fontaine to keep the game from getting away from them.
Los Angeles decided to take the lead on a play set up by Willie Mitchell where his shot that was battled out by the Wild came straight center where Justin Williams fired it back to score his 19th. It gave Los Angeles seven shots in the period, but with little more coming from their end, beating the Wild would take much more from their bench.
The Kings couldn’t respond as the Wild took hold of the first few minutes to break away. Matt Moulson fought off Jarret Stoll near the boards, ripping the helmet off his head and got out front to score his 22nd on a wrister on the high slot. Koivu added a second 1:02 later with his 10th coming from a drive near the blue line.
It became their best play of hockey with six more shots on Quick, as the Kings struggled to come up with anything to beat Ilya Byrzgalov who saw 18 shots total from Los Angeles. It gave the Russian his ninth win this year with a .900 save percentage. Quick made 17 saves on the night in his 16th loss. With little chance to move up in the ranks, the Kings third place stance in the West meant facing
San Jose in the first round of playoffs in two weeks. Before they can get there, the Kings play the next four of six on the road facing Phoenix on Wednesday night.
