Kuemper, Kings hold red-hot Wild under wraps 4-1 to extend win streak to 5

LOS ANGELES, CA – Adrian Kempe and Alex Laferriere each scored a goal, Darcy Kuemper stopped 22 shots, and the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-1 on Saturday night, snapping the Wild’s five-game win streak.

Trevor Moore contributed two empty-net goals, helping the Kings extend their own winning streak to five games, a season high.

Kempe opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period, redirecting Anze Kopitar’s rebound off his left skate. Laferriere doubled the lead midway through the second, capitalizing on a power-play opportunity while Phillip Danault screened Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Kuemper, who hadn’t played since Nov. 13 due to a groin injury, was making his first start since then. He had missed seven games but has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his 11 appearances this season.

Yakov Trenin scored for Minnesota late in the third period, but Fleury’s 30 saves weren’t enough to prevent the loss. The Wild had won 5-1 at Anaheim on Friday but fell short in the second game of their back-to-back.

Next up, the Wild will travel to Utah for a game on Tuesday, while the Kings will begin a seven-game road trip, starting with a visit to the New York Islanders on the same night.