Kempe gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 4:59 of the first period, scoring a power-play goal with a one-timer from the right circle off a cross-ice pass from Kevin Fiala. Wild defenseman Jon Merrill kept it a one-goal game at 12:00 when he lunged with his stick to deny Alex Laferriere's diving shot at an open net.

Mats Zuccarello scores a tiebreaking power-play goal with 4:38 left and Minnesota adds an empty-netter to hand the Kings a 3-1 loss. Darcy Kuemper – coming off shutouts in his previous two starts