Game 73; 44-24-5

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the second-straight night, the Los Angeles Kings fall short as the Minnesota Wild built a 2-0 lead and held on for a 2-1 victory over the silver-and-black to win the season series.

Photo credit: Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)

Erik Haula cashed in on a Kings’ own-zone giveaway early, scoring his 12th to put the Wild up early. Then, in the second, captain Mikko Koivu, with the Wild on the power play, netted his 17th up and over Jonathan Quick to make it 2-0.

Just past the halfway point of the second, Tyler Toffoli sniped his 27th — from Dwight King and Drew Doughty — past Devan Dubnyk to cut the Los Angeles deficit in half but that was as close as the Kings came on this night.

Devan Dubnyk was on his game in this one, turning away 39 shots in the victory, catapulting the Wild into the final wild card spot in the West.

For the Kings, they had a new face in the lineup as Nic Dowd made his NHL debut. Despite drawing a penalty early, though, he was in the box for Minnesota’s game-winner. Overall, though, a decent beginning as Dowd finished with a plus-one rating and one hit in 12:15 of total ice time.

Up next for the Kings will be the Winnipeg Jets, who they visit on Thursday to close out their three-game road swing.