Game 64: Kings 4, Wild 0 (FINAL)

First, if you want to try your hand at poker, and spend some time with Bob Miller, Jim Fox and other Kings personalities, there are only 25 spots remaining for Thursday’s Kings-Ducks charity poker tournament at San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino. Click here for more information. On the ice, there’s a three-point gap in the standings between the Kings and the Minnesota Wild. Will it increase or decrease tonight? All the action is on NBC Sports Network and on 1150-AM and affiliates, with all the game updates here as well…

THIRD PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Bernier vs. Backstrom.
End of period: After a scoreless third period, the Kings recorded the win. The Wild outshot the Kings 26-15.

SECOND PERIOD
In goal: It’s still Bernier vs. Backstrom.
Kings 4, Wild 0: The Kings took a four-goal lead with 4:59 remaining in the period. Alec Martinez’s initial shot from the left circle was blocked, but the puck stayed in front of him and Martinez pushed it toward the net again. Jordan Nolan was there, and was initially credited with knocking the puck past Backstrom. The goal was later changed to Martinez, but then was changed back to Nolan, with assists to Martinez and Colin Fraser.

End of period: The Wild outshot the Kings 10-5, but the home team was booed off the ice at the end of a period for the second time. The Kings went 1-for-1 on the penalty kill and did not have a power play.

FIRST PERIOD
Officials: Eric Furlatt, Tom Kowal (referees); Steve Barton, Brian Mach (linesmen).
Lineups: The Kings’ scratches are Kyle Clifford, Davis Drewiske and Kevin Westgarth. The Wild’s scratch is Matt Kassian.
In goal: It’s the Kings’ Jonathan Bernier against the Wild’s Niklas Backstrom.
Kings 1, Wild 0: After a quick flurry from the Wild on the first shift, the Kings scored 44 seconds into the game, on their first shot on goal. The puck came out to Slava Voynov at the right point, and Voynov’s one-timer deflected off Justin Williams. The puck wobbled and beat Backstrom between the pads. Dustin Brown also got an assist.
Kings 2, Wild 0: The Kings took a two-goal lead at the 9:39 mark. Justin Williams did the hardest work, as he won the puck behind the Minnesota net with a nice forecheck attempt. Williams pushed the puck to Kopitar in the corner, and Kopitar then found Dwight King directly in front of the net. King one-timed the puck past Backstrom as the Kings scored their second goal on their fourth shot on goal.
Kings 3, Wild 0: Anze Kopitar’s goal with 1:22 remaining in the period gave the Kings a 3-0 lead. After a cross-ice pass, Dustin Brown looked to shoot, then held the puck as he drifted to the left of the net. Backstrom followed him, and Brown made a perfect pass — past Wild defenseman Nate Prosser — and onto the stick of Kopitar, who tapped the puck into the net from two feet away. Matt Greene also got an assist.
End of period: The Wild outshot the Kings 10-8 in the period. The Kings went 0-for-2 on the power play and did not face a penalty kill.