Preview: Power-Play Advances, Kuemper Leads, Challenges Ahead vs. Wild Defense

The Los Angeles Kings face the Minnesota Wild in a critical matchup on January 5, 2026. This game marks the 41st of the regular season. The Kings come into this contest with a record of 17 wins, 14 losses, and 9 overtime losses. Meanwhile, the Wild boasts a strong record of 25 wins, 10 losses, and 8 overtime losses.

Matchup Overview

The game will take place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles at 7:30 PM Pacific Time. Fans can follow the action through video streaming on FanDuel Sports Network, and audio coverage will be available on ESPN LA 710 and their mobile app.

Recent Performance

The Kings recently wrapped up a two-game series against Minnesota, winning their last encounter 5-4 in a shootout. Forward Quinton Byfield played a significant role in that game, contributing with one goal and one assist. This was his second multi-point game against the Wild this season. He currently leads the Kings with 23 points.

• Quinton Byfield: 23 points this season
• Adrian Kempe: 8 goals against Minnesota in the last five seasons

After a rest day, the Kings held a full-team practice at Toyota Sports Performance Center. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to start, coming off a victory where he improved his career record against the Wild to 6-7-2.

Kings Lineup

Based on the latest practice session, the Kings’ projected lineup is:

• Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
• Foegele – Byfield – Armia
• Fiala – Turcotte – Kuzmenko
• Malott – Helenius – Perry

• Defense: Anderson – Doughty, Edmundson – Clarke, Dumoulin – Ceci

• Goalie: Kuemper

Trevor Moore is expected to miss his third consecutive game due to injury, while Jacob Moverare could be activated as a replacement if needed.

Wild’s Strength

The Minnesota Wild is experiencing a successful run, with just one regulation loss in their last 14 games. They hold a record of 10-1-3 during this stretch. Forward Matt Boldy scored against the Kings in their last meeting, marking his 26th goal of the season, putting him second in the NHL rankings.

Wild Lineup

Here’s how the Minnesota squad lined up during their recent practice:

• Kaprizov – Yurov – Zuccarello
• Johansson – Eriksson Ek – Boldy
• Tarasenko – Hartman – Hinostroza
• Foligno – Sturm – Trenin

• Defense: Brodin – Spurgeon, Middleton – Kiersted

• Goalie: Gustavsson

Power-Play Progress

The Kings have seen improvement in their power play, scoring in four consecutive games. This marks a turnaround for a unit that has struggled significantly this season. In those games, the Kings have scored five goals, with Corey Perry leading the charge.

• Perry: 2 power-play goals in four games
• Byfield, Fiala, Kuzmenko: 1 power-play goal each

Looking Ahead

As the Kings prepare for this pivotal matchup, they aim to maintain their offensive momentum while tightening up their defense to minimize rush opportunities from the Wild. This game is crucial for both teams as they strive for playoff contention in a challenging schedule ahead.

The Kings and Wild will wrap up their season series, with Los Angeles currently holding a 1-0-1 record against Minnesota. They aim to secure a series victory tonight.