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The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov (97) gets the puck past Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) for the game winning goal in overtime during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. The Wild defeated the Kings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Anze Kopitar (11) takes a shot during the Kings home opener against the Wild at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Austin Wagner (27) battles with he Wild’s Nico Sturm (7) during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Wild’s Matt Dumba (24) checks the Kings’ Austin Wagner (27) as the Wild’s Ryan Suter (20) moves in during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Jeff Carter (77) reacts after scoring a first period goal during their home opener against the Wild at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Jeff Carter (77) reacts after scoring a first period goal during their home opener against the Wild at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) keeps an eye on the puck during the Kings home opener against the Wild at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Wild’s Jonas Brodin (25) celebrates scoring a first period goal during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Mark Alt (5) and the Wild’s Jordan Greenway (18) battle for the puck during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Andreas Athanasiou (22) reacts after scoring a goal as the Wild’s Matt Dumba (24) and goalie Cam Talbot (33) look on in the second period during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Kings Drew Doughty (8) and Adrian Kempe (9) move the puck away from the Wild’s Marcus Johansson (90) during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Olli Maatta (6) and the Wild’s Marcus Johansson (90) battle for the puck during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Kings players congratulate Adrian Kempe (9) after he scored a second period goal against the Wild during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Andreas Athanasiou (22) scores a goal as the Wild’s Matt Dumba (24) and goalie Cam Talbot (33) defend in the second period during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Wild’s Victor Rask (49) falls to the ice as the Kings’ Mikey Anderson (44) grabs the puck during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. The Wild defeated the Kings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Kings’ Matt Roy (3) and the Wild’s Kevin Fiala (22) battle for the puck during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. The Wild defeated the Kings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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The Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov (97) celebrates with teammates as Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (32) leaves the ice after Kaprizov scored the game winning goal in overtime during the Kings home opener at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Thursday, January 14, 2021. The Wild defeated the Kings 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
After 10 months off, a mere 60 minutes was not enough for the Kings.
Despite carrying a 3-1 lead into the third period, the Kings fell to the Minnesota Wild, 4-3, in overtime on Thursday night inside an empty Staples Center.
“It was certainly not the outcome we wanted, especially being up 3-1 after the second,” Kings center and team captain Anze Kopitar said.
The Kings and Wild were teams who were just figuring it out when play was suspended in March. The Wild made a playoff push after a dismal start – and got reinforcements this offseason – and the Kings were seeking their eighth consecutive win Thursday, 10 months after they notched No. 7 to end last season.
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick lost on opening night for the eighth time after getting his 12th season-opening nod, making 23 of 27 saves. Cam Talbot, whom Minnesota signed as a free agent this offseason, denied 31 of 34 Kings shots.
It was a rookie, Minnesota winger Karill Kaprizov, who stole the show with two assists, the game-winning goal and a fistful of hold-your-breath moments over the course of 63 minutes.
Forward Jeff Carter notched a goal and an assist for the Kings, and wingers Andreas Athanasiou and Dustin Brown also scored. Anze Kopitar added two assists. Defensemen Jonas Brodin, center Victor Rask and forward Marcus Foligno scored for the Wild.
Carter factored into tying and go-ahead goals in the first 40 minutes of Thursday’s game. He scored the equalizer with just more than one second left in the first period, sneaking in a rebound from a faceoff that Kopitar won forward and into the Minnesota goal crease.
“I did tell Carts to go to the front somewhat, to see if something happens, and it turned out pretty well,” Kopitar said when asked if it was a set play.
Later, Carter generated a rebound with a shot off the rush that Athanasiou popped in off a set play to break a 1-1 tie in the second period.
Athanasiou made his Kings debut; he was signed in the offseason after five NHL seasons primarily spent with the Detroit Red Wings.
On Wednesday, Kings general manager Rob Blake singled out Carter as having benefited from the 10-month layoff due to the coronavirus pandemic and delayed postseason.
“Carts has been good all training camp, finally healthy,” Coach Todd McLellan said, adding that the “speed factor” of a fresh-legged Carter and Athanasiou could elevate the Kings’ gritty offense.
Late in the second period, the Kings scored their first power-play goal of the season. Brown received the puck down low and turned it back toward the net from behind the goal. The puck redirected in off a Wild defender. Brown’s 300th career goal extended the Kings’ lead to 3-1 with 2:55 left in the second period.
Not only did the Kings convert one of their four power plays, they killed all six man-advantage opportunities for the Wild.
But the Wild were not without a spark, mainly in the form of rookie winger Kirill Kaprizov. While No. 1 overall draft pick Alexis Lafreniere turned in an unremarkable debut for the Rangers, the 23-year-old Russian phenom Kaprizov recorded the primary assists on Minnesota’s first two goals
On the first, he made a long reception in stride near the boards, cut inward and drew three Kings defenders. When he lost control of the puck, it went to Brodin for a clean shot that opened the scoring in the game. In the third period, he sucked in the defense again and sent a pass high to Rask for a goal from the point.
Later in the third, he nearly factored into a third when forward Kevin Fiala nailed the post after a passing sequence initiated by Kaprizov in the third period and defenseman Jared Spurgeon did the same in overtime.
The flash and perspicacity of Kaprizov were complemented by a Minnesota checking line with Foligno and Jordan Greenway on the wings. Foligno’s heavy fore-checking started a series of events that culminated in his game-tying goal midway through the final frame.
It was the young Russian’s night as he collected a neutral-zone turnover and glided in on goal. As he transitioned from backhand to forehand, the puck banked off his skate and past Quick for the game-winner.
“Minnesota’s lucky to have a talented player like that,” McLellan said. “The NHL is fortunate to have him because he looks like he’s going to be a tremendous one.”
FEELIN’ THE FLOW! IT’S JEFF CARTER WITH THE FIRST KINGS GOAL OF THE SEASON!
#GoKingsGo | @LAKings pic.twitter.com/USwMu1KDYt
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) January 15, 2021
WELCOME TO LA, ANDREAS ATHANASIOU!
@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/P19aSlMnMH
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) January 15, 2021
“There’s a lot of things we did well, things we can build off of… and certainly areas that we have to clean up.”
Hear from @LAKings Coach Todd McLellan following tonight’s season opener. pic.twitter.com/kzvktrudlw
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) January 15, 2021
“I felt good… I felt ready.”
Anze Kopitar discusses tonight’s season-opening OT loss to the Wild.@LAKings pic.twitter.com/86VAFtV61t
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) January 15, 2021
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