LA Kings vs. Wild: Three standout players in 2-1 win over Wild
Three standout players in the LA Kings 2-1 win over the Wild.
After watching a pair of wins slip away from them against the Minnesota Wild to begin the season, the LA Kings weren’t about to let that happen again on Tuesday.
Sticking with the same lineup from Sunday’s impressive 6-3 win over the St. Louis Blues, the Kings managed to head into St. Paul and grab a 2-1 win to improve their record to 3-2-2 on the young season.
Despite going 0-for-3 on the power play in the first period, the Kings still ended up scoring the opening goal of the game for the first time this season. Though the Wild turned things up later in the game, outshooting the Kings 27-9 over the final two frames and scoring the equalizer early in the third, LA was able to retake the lead and hang on for the victory.
Here were the Kings’ three standout players from their third victory of 2021.
1. Cal Petersen gave the LA Kings a dominant effort
This wasn’t the best game the Kings have played this season. But it was the best goaltending performance they’ve gotten so far, courtesy of Cal Petersen.
TM on CP40: "He played his best game of the season. Hats off to him."
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) January 27, 2021
Petersen looked in control all night, making 32 saves and holding off a late onslaught by the Wild to claim his first win of the year. This was already Petersen’s third start in seven games this season, so it seems clear that there’s an opportunity here for him to grab with the Kings. More performances like Tuesday’s would go a long way for him.
2. Carl Grundstrom scored his second goal with the LA Kings.
It was somewhat puzzling that Carl Grundstrom didn’t get more of an opportunity with the Kings last season.
After coming over from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Jake Muzzin trade during the 2018-19 season, Grundstrom made a solid first impression, scoring five goals in 15 games with LA. Yet while last year was another lost season for the Kings where they should’ve been giving lots of opportunity to younger players, Grundstrom spent most of the season in the AHL.
Well, so far this year, Grundstrom looks like he’s going to make it as hard as possible for the Kings to keep him out of their lineup. After his highlight-reel goal against the Blues on Sunday, Grundstrom came through again for LA on Tuesday, scoring the game-winning goal on a beautiful shot in the third period.
#LAKings respond quickly. Grundstrom with his second goal of the year. 2-1 LAK pic.twitter.com/q5i8jLpGRZ
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) January 27, 2021
Grundstrom’s line with Trevor Moore and Michael Amadio was arguably the Kings’ most effective on Tuesday. In a night where they ended up being heavily outshot, LA had over 64% of the shot attempts with them on the ice.
3. Kurtis MacDermid scored his fifth goal in an LA Kings uniform.
The Kings finally scored the opening goal in a game this season, and it came off the stick of who else but Kurtis MacDermid?
First time this season the #LAKings have scored first. MacDermid 1-0 LAK pic.twitter.com/sTewrvMsB7
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) January 27, 2021
Perhaps one of the most unlikely sources of offense on LA’s roster, MacDermid jumped up into the rush and managed to beat Kaapo Kahkonen with a great shot from a tough angle. MacDermid also blocked a team-high three shots and played a big role on the penalty kill to help the Kings hold on for a tight win in a low-scoring game.
LA Kings Schedule and Notes:
The Kings managed to pick up a victory in a rink that has traditionally not been a fun place for them to play. They snapped a three-game losing streak at Minnesota and won in regulation there for the first time since November 26, 2014. LA has scored at least two goals in all seven games this season.
These same two teams will wrap up their two-game set on Thursday at 5 PM (PT).