Fiala scores twice, Kings keeps rolling in 6-3 win over Canadiens

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Fiala had two goals, Warren Foegele scored on a penalty shot, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-3 on Wednesday night.

Vladislav Gavrikov, Brandt Clarke and Trevor Moore also scored for the Kings, who have won 11 of their past 12 home games. Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves.

Building on a 4-2 win at Carolina on Saturday, Los Angeles won the opener of a six-game homestand that bookends the upcoming 4 Nations Face-off international tournament.

Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier also scored for the Canadiens, who have lost six of seven. Jakub Dobes made 32 saves.

Both of Fiala's goals came on one-timers from the right circle in the third period, with the second restoring a two-goal lead 35 seconds after Logan Mailloux cut it to 4-3 with less than 7 minutes remaining.

Canadiens: Patrik Laine has totaled 12 goals and six assists in his first 20 games following a preseason knee injury, but he doesn’t have a point in the past six games.

Kings: After scoring two goals or fewer in seven straight games, including consecutive shutout defeats to Florida and Tampa Bay, Los Angeles has seemingly regained its scoring touch.

Clarke picked up his first goal and point in two games since being a healthy scratch for two contests when he buried a slap shot 15 seconds into the third period to give Los Angeles a 3-1 lead.

Fiala has four goals in his past two games, reaching the 20-goal mark for the sixth straight season.

Canadiens host New Jersey on Saturday, and Kings host Dallas on Friday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach, left, passes the puck to defenseman Lane Hutson, right, as Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty dives between them during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj, right moves the puck as Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele reaches in during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, right, makes a glove save as Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans tries to redirect during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes, left, stops a shot as Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, right, falls after being taken down by defenseman Logan Mailloux which resulted in a penalty shot with Foegele scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, scores on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes during a penalty shot in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Morez Johnson Jr. scored a career-high 29 points, including 17 in the first half, and No. 2 Michigan beat No. 24 Southern California 96-66 on Friday night.

Roddy Gayle Jr. added 12 points for the Wolverines (13-0, 3-0 Big Ten), and Will Tschetter, Trey McKenney and L.J. Cason each scored 10.

Michigan is off to its best start since it won 17 straight games to start the 2018-19 season.

Jaden Brownell scored 16 points and Erza Ausar added 15 for the Trojans (12-2, 1-2), whose only previous loss was by eight points against Washington on Dec. 6. Chad Baker-Mazara, who came into the game averaging 21 points, was hampered by early foul trouble and finished with 12 points on 3-of-11 shooting.

Michigan starting guard Nimari Burnett was helped from the court with 16:25 left after falling during a battle under the basket. He went down to the floor and appeared to be bleeding above his eyebrow and holding his ankle. He sat on the bench the rest of the night.

The Wolverines bolted out to an 11-0 lead thanks to a defense that forced six early turnovers. USC got within five points twice in the first half and Michigan responded with a 32-19 run to build a 49-31 halftime advantage.

USC got no closer the rest of the way.

USC: At No. 9 Michigan State on Monday.

Michigan: Visits Penn State on Tuesday.

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Michigan center Aday Mara, front, drives against Southern California center Gabe Dynes, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)