Stud: Andrei Kuzmenko, W
It was huge yesterday to see forward Andrei Kuzmenko come up big offensively, scoring the puck for the Kings in clutch time in the third period at Crypto for LA. Kuzmenko put on a show in the game's final frame in the third period to get the Kings over the finish line with a shorthanded team in clutch time to get a huge win in the West over the Wild from Minnesota yesterday.
PUTTING ON A KUZMENKSHOW pic.twitter.com/0U0nByCYsy
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 6, 2026
When the Kings were looking to expand the lead and get more of a comfortable margin on the board in the second period in the middle frame, Kuzmenko deked through multiple Wild defenders in the offensive zone and passed to Kevin Fiala to bury the puck in the net past the Minnesota goalie. Fiala's goal doubled the Kings' lead on the scoreboard in the middle frame yesterday.
"You’re looking in those moments for somebody to make a big play. We’ve had opportunities at different times this year and we’ve been close but we haven’t been able to get that. Tonight, it was just an incredible goal by Kuzy, really the most important goal in the game in the end."Hiller on Andrei Kuzmenko
Kuzmenko scored one of the biggest highlight reel goals in the West this regular season for the Kings in this past few months in the game's final frame yesterday vs. the Wild. He really gave the team a spark when the Kings needed to push back offensively in a big way against the WIld in the final frame in the third period.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention how motivated both Fiala and Kuzmenko look offensively, scoring the puck for the Kings in the West this regular season. Fiala and Kuzmenko combined for two goals and one assist with three total points yesterday, including the game-winning goal from Kuzy in clutch time in the third period, vs. Minnesota on home ice.