{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Hockey League
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Minnesota 4, Los Angeles 1
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, March 28, 2015
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Referees: Francois St. Laurent, Gord Dwyer
Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Jay Sharrers
Attendance: 19204

Wild 4, Kings 1: Nino Niederreiter and captain Mikko Koivu each scored a pair of goals as host Minnesota extended its winning streak to five games and climbed into third place in the Central Division.

Devan Dubnyk, making his 35th straight start, turned aside 31 shots in improving to 26-6-1 since being acquired from Arizona as the surging Wild moved one point ahead of division rival Chicago, although the Blackhawks have two games in hand. Chris Stewart collected two assists and Koivu added one as Minnesota won for the seventh time in eight games.

Dwight King scored the lone goal for Los Angeles, which had its three-game winning streak snapped and remained one point ahead of Calgary for third place in the Pacific Division. Jonathan Quick allowed a pair of first-period goals on nine shots and was replaced by Martin Jones (nine saves) to start the middle session.

The Wild struck just over three minutes into the contest as Koivu set up Niederreiter, who skated in front and slid a backhander around Quick. Koivu doubled the lead with 6:21 left in the first period, working a quick give-and-go with Stewart before lifting a backhander over the netminder's glove.

King cut the deficit in half 3:20 into the second, converting a crossing pass from Jeff Carter with a shot just over the right pad of Dubnyk, who held the Kings off the board the rest of the way. Niederreiter made it a two-goal cushion with a redirection during a power play with 3:03 left in the third before Koivu sealed the win with an empty-netter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Koivu registered the 115th multi-point performance of his career to break the franchise record set by current Kings RW Marian Gaborik. ... King snapped a 19-game goalless drought while Los Angeles C Anze Kopitar had his point streak halted at five games. ... Minnesota's top-ranked penalty kill snuffed out three Los Angeles power plays and is 25-for-27 over the last nine contests. ... Wild D Jared Spurgeon notched an assist for his 100th career point. ... The Kings, who are 3-1-0 on their five-game road trip that concludes in Chicago on Monday, trail Vancouver by three points for second place in the Pacific.
Top Game Performances
 
Los Angeles   Minnesota
Dwight King 1 Points Mikko Koivu 3
Dwight King 1 Goals Mikko Koivu 2
Jeff Carter 1 Assists Chris Stewart 2
N/A Power Play Goals Nino Niederreiter 1
N/A Short Handed Goals N/A
Martin Jones .900 Save Percentage Devan Dubnyk .969
Martin Jones 9 Saves Devan Dubnyk 31
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Shots Goals Power Play Penalty Kill Penalty Mins Face Offs Won
Los Angeles 32 1 0-3 1-2 9 32
Minnesota 20 4 1-2 3-3 11 30
Upcoming Games
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against NY Rangers. The Wild have a W/L % of .591 after a win and .562 after a loss.
  • Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Chicago. The Kings have a W/L % of .541 after a win and .447 after a loss.