Kings Top Minnesota With Wild Second Period, 5-2

The Los Angeles Kings exploded for four goals in the second period en route to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild Saturday night at Staples Center. The win was the second in three contests for the Kings, who improved to 8-6-3 on the season.

Five different players scored goals for the Kings, including Simon Gagne, who scored his sixth goal at 11:44 of the second period to give the Kings a 4-0 lead. Gagne also had an assist for the Kings on the night. Two and a half minutes later, defenseman Matt Greene picked up his first goal of the season to widen the margin to 5-0. It was the eighth career goal for Greene, currently in his seventh NHL season.

The last time the Kings scored four goals in one period was December 27, 2010 in a 4-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks. Jonathan Quick saved 24 shots for the win, his seventh victory of the season.

Saturday night was the 1,000th game of Kings head coach Terry Murray's coaching career. Now in his 15th season as a head coach, Murray is 494-377-89, a .539 winning percentage. Murray's .565 winning percentage with the Kings is the best in franchise history, and he is third in Kings' history in wins with a 134-100-29 mark.

The Kings now have three days off before battling the Anaheim Ducks in a home-and-home series on back-to-back nights beginning Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Other Notes

During the second intermission on the Fox Sports West broadcast, Kings television analyst Jim Fox was presented a United States flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington D.C. by Congressman Brad Sherman of Sherman Oaks. Fox, who recently became a U.S. Citizen was emotional in receiving the flag, saying "I think most of the people who hang around me know how important this was to me and my wife Susie. I'm honored for this."

For more Kings hockey news and notes, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown.