A diverse series of goals by the Wild is what it took to ultimately shrug off goaltender Jonathan Quick and the last-place Kings after losses against two of the NHL's other weakest teams.
The coach's challenge issued by Bruce Boudreau to examine a play Monday was the fourth unsuccessful try by the Wild this season, a 2-for-6 clip that reflects just how unpredictable these resolutions can be.
Goalie Devan Dubnyk gave up five goals on 20 shots and there were plenty of other mistakes by a Wild team that lost another game to one of the NHL's weakest teams.
The Wild finishes off a back-to-back by playing host to the Kings, the third and final meeting between these two teams. During the previous two games, the Wild outscored Los Angeles 7-2 in a pair of victories.
The current stretch against the NHL's most woeful teams — which continues tonight in Philadelphia against the last-place Flyers — could be more of a trap than a catapult for the Wild.