Alexander Frolov scored twice and Michal Handzus added a goal and an assist as the Los Angeles Kings snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Thursday night.
Brad Richardson and Ryan Smyth also scored for the Kings, 5-2-1 on the second night of back-to-back games. The Kings didn't arrive in Minnesota until early Thursday morning after playing a hard-hitting game at Calgary on Wednesday.
Andrew Brunette and Owen Nolan scored for Minnesota, which failed to close out a strong December with a win. After starting 3-9, the Wild have picked up their play. They were 10-4 in December before losing their final two games.
Los Angeles led 3-0 after the first period on goals by Richardson, Frolov and Ryan Smyth. Eight players notched points in the first.
Handzus made it 4-0 early in the second on a cross-ice one-timer. The Kings were skating with a 6-on-5 advantage because goalie Jonathan Quick went off during a delayed penalty call.
Minnesota has come from behind in 11 of its 20 wins, but the early four-goal deficit was too much to overcome. The Wild lost for the second time in their last eight home games.
Frolov's second goal was scored into an empty net with 1:38 remaining.
NOTES: Petr Sykora returned for the Wild after missing 24 games because of a concussion. Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard remain out with concussions. Burns has skated the past three days. ... Kings F Jarret Stoll missed another game due to a groin injury. ... A section of the ice was littered with eight sticks and 11 gloves after a skirmish was cleared at the end of the second period. Four players were sent to the penalty box to start the third.
