Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov gets best of the Kings yet again

April 24, 2021 9:04 AM — Posted by signsanaheim — Posted at business signage ,irvine sign company

  • Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot, bottom, makes a save as the Kings’ Austin Wagner slides into the net during the first period of Friday’s game at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Olli Maatta #6 of the Los Angeles Kings and Joel Eriksson Ek #14 of the Minnesota Wild look back for the puck during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Calvin Petersen #40 and Sean Walker #26 of the Los Angeles Kings look for the puck along with Joel Eriksson Ek #14 of the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild scores past Cal Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings and Drew Doughty #8, for a 1-0 lead, during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • The Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, center, watches as the puck enters the net past Kings goaltender Cal Petersen for a goal during the first period Friday’s game at Staples Center. Kaprizov scored two goals in the Wild’s 4-2 win. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, center, of Russia, celebrates his goal with Ryan Suter, left, and Mats Zuccarello, of Norway, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates his goal with Ryan Suter #20 and Mats Zuccarello #36, to take a 1-0 lead over the Los Angeles Kings, during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild is hit by Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Marcus Johansson, center, of Sweden, shoves Los Angeles Kings’ Mikey Anderson in front of Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Jordan Greenway #18 of the Minnesota Wild fends off Tobias Bjornfot #33 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Jordan Greenway #18 of the Minnesota Wild fends off Tobias Bjornfot #33 of the Los Angeles Kings as he skates toward Calvin Petersen #40 during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Jordan Greenway (18) is pressured by Los Angeles Kings’ Tobias Bjornfot (33) as Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen watches during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Jordan Greenway #18 of the Minnesota Wild reaches for the puck in front of Tobias Bjornfot #33 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Los Angeles Kings’ Carl Grundstrom, of Sweden, is reflected on plexiglass as a cutout of a fan occupies a seat during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot deflects the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • The Kings’ Trevor Moore is congratulated as he skates past the bench after scoring during the first period of Friday’s game against the Minnesota Wild at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Marcus Foligno #17 of the Minnesota Wild turns to the net past a fallen Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Mats Zuccarello, of Norway, moves the puck under pressure by Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Iafallo, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen deflects the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Cam Talbot #33 of the Minnesota Wild catches a puck over Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Cam Talbot #33 of the Minnesota Wild makes a save on Andreas Athanasiou #22 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Cam Talbot #33 of the Minnesota Wild reacts as he collides with Carl Grundstrom #91 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot, right, tries to stop a shot as he is tripped by Los Angeles Kings’ Carl Grundstrom, of Sweden, during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. The shot was ruled no goal. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Kevin Fiala #22 of the Minnesota Wild stick handles in front of Blake Lizotte #46 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Cam Talbot #33 of the Minnesota Wild makes a save in front of Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Jared Spurgeon #46 of the Minnesota Wild makes a pass as he is checked by Dustin Brown #23 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Kevin Fiala, bottom falls to the ice as he chases the puck against Los Angeles Kings’ Carl Grundstrom, left, and Sean Walker during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Wild won 4-2. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Victor Rask, right, of Sweden, is checked into the Los Angeles Kings’ bench by Kings’ Dustin Brown during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov, of Russia, shoots to score his second goal of an NHL hockey game during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Cal Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings allows the goal of Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild, to trail 2-1, during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild players celebrate a goal by Kirill Kaprizov, second from left, of Russia, his second goal of an NHL hockey game, during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Kirill Kaprizov #97 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates his second goal of the game with teammates, to take a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Kings, during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Cam Talbot #33 of the Minnesota Wild reacts after his catch of the puck in front of Gabriel Vilardi #13 of the Los Angeles Kings as Jordan Greenway #18 Joel Eriksson Ek #14 and Trevor Moore #12 of the Los Angeles Kings look on during the second period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot, center right, grabs the puck over Los Angeles Kings’ Gabriel Vilardi during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Los Angeles Kings’ Sean Walker, center, is checked by Minnesota Wild’s Jordan Greenway, left, and Marcus Foligno during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Nick Bonino, right, tries to score against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Wild won 4-2. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • Minnesota Wild’s Jared Spurgeon hits the puck away from the net during the third period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Wild won 4-2. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Mikey Anderson #44 of the Los Angeles Kings fends off Kevin Fiala #22 of the Minnesota Wild during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Nico Sturm #7 of the Minnesota Wild celebrate his goal with Nick Bonino #13, to take a 3-1 lead in front of Calvin Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings, during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Nico Sturm #7 of the Minnesota Wild celebrate his goal with Nick Bonino #13, to take a 3-1 lead in front of Calvin Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings, during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild players celebrate a goal by Nico Sturm as Los Angeles Kings goaltender Calvin Petersen stands in front of the net during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Wild won 4-2. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Alex Iafallo #19 of the Los Angeles Kings breaks from Marcus Foligno #17 of the Minnesota Wild during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates his goal with Dustin Brown #23, Tobias Bjornfot #33 and Drew Doughty #8, to trail 3-2 to the Minnesota Wild, during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Nick Bonino #13 of the Minnesota Wild attempts a wrap around on Calvin Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Kevin Fiala #22 of the Minnesota Wild fends off Sean Walker #26 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Tobias Bjornfot #33 of the Los Angeles Kings clears the puck in front of Victor Rask #49 of the Minnesota Wild during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: Calvin Petersen #40 of the Los Angeles Kings watches the puck during the third period in a 4-2 Minnesota Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Joel Eriksson Ek #14 of the Minnesota Wild celebrates his empty net goal with Marcus Foligno #17 behind Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period in a 4-2 Wild win at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot, left, and teammate Mats Zuccarello celebrate the team’s 4-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings in an NHL hockey game Friday, April 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

  • LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 23: An masked usher stands along the boards before the game between the Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Staples Center on April 23, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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Minnesota Wild rookie winger Kirill Kaprizov once again showed the Kings why he is known as “The Thrill,” and it isn’t because his moniker rhymes with Kaprizov.

He scored two goals to help beat the Kings, 4-2, on Friday night at Staples Center, in a game that the Kings controlled for prolonged stretches. Kaprizov extended his goal streak to four games, during which he has five tallies to pad his team lead and franchise rookie records.

On the season, Kaprizov finished with six goals and nine points in eight games against the Kings. He leads all rookies in scoring.

“He’s going to be, at least in my opinion, the rookie of the year for a reason. He’s got five or six pro years under his belt, he’s brought a great skill set to the national league, Minnesota’s lucky to have him and we’re lucky to have him as a league. He’s a heck of a player,” said Kings coach Todd McLellan, who was pleased with his team’s effort despite the loss.

Centers Nico Sturm and Joel Eriksson-Ek also scored for the Wild, who have won six straight and improved to 9-2-1 in their last 12 games. Cam Talbot was a busy man in Minnesota’s goal, making 40 saves.

Winger Trevor Moore and center Anze Kopitar scored for the Kings, who have gone 26 games without consecutive wins. Cal Petersen made 20 saves on 23 shots.

Eriksson-Ek lofted the puck into the empty net with 9.8 seconds left to remove any lingering doubts about the game’s outcome.

The Kings pulled Petersen with 2:35 to play, seeking their first goal with their netminder on the bench this season. Their six-on-five advantage became a six-on-four edge when Minnesota took a late penalty.

Despite the prime opportunity, the Kings were unable to convert, a moment they hope will not become a microcosm of their advantage-laden, late-season push.

WIth less than five minutes left, the Kings drew to within one when Kopitar stuffed the puck through Talbot’s pads on a wraparound attempt. It was career point No. 996 for Kopitar, who will soon become the 91st player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-point mark.

Kaprizov had two more dangerous chances in the third: a wraparound that Petersen denied and another opportunity from in tight that was blocked by Drew Doughty.

But the Wild sealed the Kings’ fate with 8:41 left in the game. Forward Nick Bonino’s wraparound attempt left the puck loose near the goal line, where Sturm pushed it across with Moore and defenseman Olli Maatta looking on as the game-winner entered the net.

In the second period, the Kings largely dominated play, out-shooting Minnesota 20-7 in the second period and 31-13 overall through 40 minutes. Two of those 13 shots belonged to Kaprizov, and both became goals.

“I think we tried our best. We had some good looks and had a couple tough bounces,” forward Adrian Kempe said. “Overall, obviously it’s frustrating, losing, but we’ve got to take the good things with us, charge the batteries and play the same way tomorrow.”

The Kings appeared to even the score quickly after falling behind 2-1 in the second period, but winger Carl Grundstrom had lost an edge and fallen into goalie Cam Talbot. The goal was waived off immediately, and there was no minor penalty for goalie interference.

Though the Kings carried over some energy from the end of the first period to the start of the second, center Blake Lizotte took an early penalty. The Kings were doubling up Minnesota, 16-8, in shots on goal at the time of his hooking minor.

Once again it was Kaprizov torturing the Kings, scoring 6:41 into the second period.

Kopitar had given his stick to defenseman Mikey Anderson after Anderson lost his, giving the Kings’ short-handedness an additional dimension. Kaprizov glided into the right faceoff dot, stick-handling and looking up as if he were scanning the ice to make a pass. Instead, he settled the puck and let fly with a searing wrist shot that smoked past Petersen on the far side.

“What can you do? That’s hockey. On their power-play goal, Mikey, first he breaks his stick and then he falls down in the corner. There’s not much you can do. (Stuff) happens,” said forward Gabe Vilardi, who had already shifted his focus to a critical game with fourth-place Arizona on Saturday.

Kaprizov had already surpassed former Kings winger Marian Gaborik, who began his career with Minnesota, for most goals by a Wild rookie with 19 entering Friday’s game. He now has 21 in 46 games. Gaborik played in 71 games as a rookie.

The first period concluded in exhilarating fashion with a buzzer-beating goal by Moore.

Off the forecheck, Vilardi recovered the puck behind the net and used his long reach to send it in front to the opposite side of the goal where Moore tapped it home with 0.9 seconds left.

“(Vilardi’s line) set the tone with their tenacity early in the game. We were using the word ‘hunt’ a lot on the bench and they were doing that,” McLellan said. “It rubbed off on a couple other lines and as a result it went through the whole team and all of a sudden we have that mentality rather than a pull-out or back-off mentality, and we had it right to the end.”

That goal was the culmination of a strong finish to the period by the Kings, which included a struck post by defenseman Drew Doughty and a power-play with substantial offensive-zone time.

That surge was a welcome sight as the early part of the period belonged to the Wild, who pressured the Kings on the forecheck, wore them down cycling the puck and opened the scoring at the 7:44 mark of the game.

After defenseman Jared Spurgeon poked the poke off Kopitar’s stick, his short pass sent Kaprizov ahead with momentum. Anderson appeared to have Kaprizov confined to the right wing wall, but Kaprizov dragged the puck behind him and sent a spectacular pass to himself between his legs as he caught Anderson leaning. Kaprizov beat him to the inside and popped the puck under Petersen’s arm and into the net.

“It is what it is,” Vilardi said. “We play again tomorrow. We’ve got to bounce back, and tomorrow we’re playing the team that’s in fourth place, so we’ve got to bear down here and be ready.”

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