Kings Look to Extend Winning Streak Against Struggling Wild

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild host the Los Angeles Kings tonight as they seek to end a disappointing stretch of games. The puck drops at 5:00 p.m. PST at Xcel Energy Center, following a recent 5-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Tonight’s matchup marks the second meeting this season between these two teams, with the Kings having claimed a decisive 4-1 victory in December. In that game, goaltender Darcy Kuemper of the Kings made 22 saves, contributing to a strong performance that limited the Wild to just 23 shots.

Kuemper has continued his stellar play, boasting a perfect 4-0-0 record in the Kings’ current five-game winning streak, alongside an impressive .980 save percentage and an average of only 0.50 goals allowed per game. “Expect him to be sharp again tonight against his former team,” said NHL analyst Chris Peters

On the offensive front, Kings forward Quinton Byfield has emerged as a key player, scoring in six consecutive games. Pairing him with Kevin Fiala and Alex Laferriere has turned this line into a dominant force, easing the pressure off seasoned players like Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar.

Conversely, the Wild are grappling with injuries that have severely affected their performance. They have won just three of their last ten games and have dropped from a 3rd place standing in the Central Division to six points behind the Colorado Avalanche. A significant absence is that of Kirill Kaprizov, alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin, who are all unavailable due to injuries.

In the wake of these injuries, Minnesota’s offensive output has faltered, ranking 26th in the NHL with only 18 goals scored over their last ten matchups. Coach John Hynes is relying on players such as Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy to lead the way, as they have accumulated 55 and 53 points, respectively, this season.

Meanwhile, the Kings hope to enhance their playoff chances by sweeping the season series against Minnesota. They currently hold a 99.8% likelihood of making the playoffs, according to league analytics.

As both teams prepare to take the ice, all eyes will be on Kuemper to see if he can continue his remarkable trend, making him a prime candidate for Vezina Trophy consideration this season. “This year, we’ve struggled a little bit on the road. It’s hard to make sense of it sometimes. But I do believe that our players know that if we are all together and play the game the way we believe we can succeed, then we can beat anybody,” remarked Kings head coach Jim Hiller.

Fans can tune in to the game through the FanDuel Sports Network West, with pregame coverage beginning 30 minutes prior to the puck drop.