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.

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.