Kuzmenko has goal and assist as Kings beat Wild 4-2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andrei Kuzmenko had a goal and an assist, and the Los Angeles Kings held on to beat the Minnesota Wild 4-2 on Monday night.

Warren Foegele, Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe also scored, and Darcy Kuemper stopped 33 shots for the Kings, who beat the Wild for the second time in three nights and got just their fourth win in 12 games (4-6-2).

Jared Spurgeon had a goal and an assist, and Ryan Hartman also scored for Minnesota, which snapped a six-game point streak (3-0-3). and Filip Gustavsson had 29 saves.

The Wild are 3-1-2 on a seven-game road trip that ends Thursday at Seattle. They also lost at Los Angeles 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday night.

Kings center Anze Kopitar left the game after playing 4:54 in the first period. The Kings later ruled him out for the rest of the game due to a lower-body injury. Kings head coach Jim Hiller had no update Kopitar's status after the game and said the team would know more Tuesday. Kopitar was seen walking without an apparent limp and without crutches or a walking boot as he left the Kings’ dressing room.

Los Angeles had 16-8 advantage on shots on goal in the second period and scored twice to take a 2-0 lead. Minnesota had two power plays in the period, but managed just one shot during the advantages.

Foegele gave the Kings a 1-0 lead with a long shot from just inside the blue line with 4:26 left in the second period.

Fiala doubled Los Angeles lead with 2:08 to go in the middle period. Andrei Kuzmenko's pass deflected off Fiala's skate on the left doorstep and past Gurstavsson for Fiala's 15th of the season.

Spurgeon got the Wild on the scoreboard at 5:55 of the third period with a shot from the left point through traffic to spoiled Kuemper's bid for his third shutout of the season.

Kuzmenko restored the Kings' two-goal lead at 9:20 as he skated with the puck from the left side across the front of the net and put the puck past Gustavsson from the right side.

Hartman pulled the Wild to 3-2 with a power-play goal with 4:39 remaining, but Kempe sealed the Kings' win with an empty-netter 3 minutes later..

Wild: At Seattle on Thursday night to finish a seven-game trip.

Kings: Host San Jose on Wednesday night to finish a four-game homestand.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper, right, makes a save as Minnesota Wild center Yakov Trenin (13) and Kings left wing Jeff Malott (39) watch during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) watches after making a save as Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) looks on at the puck as right wing Mats Zuccarello, second from left, and Los Angeles Kings left wing Jeff Malott (39) watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, right, skates around the goal as Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) watches and goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, center, and Los Angeles Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko (96) celebrate after a goal as Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon, left, skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Andrei Kuzmenko (96) passes the puck as Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton, right, defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The world’s largest tech showcase does not come without theatrics. Innovations and gadgets like a lollipop that sings to you as you consume it, a laundry-folding robot and a “smart” LEGO brick have stolen the spotlight so far at CES 2026. But underscoring this year’s programming is a strong focus on an industry that relies on a similar theatrical flair: entertainment.

More than 25 different panels and events related to the entertainment industry are on the schedule in Las Vegas, focusing on both the traditional studio side of the industry and the digital side driven by content creators. The programming has posed questions about the cinematic capabilities of AI, how advertising has been impacted by AI and the role the burgeoning creator economy plays in the larger entertainment landscape.

Artificial intelligence has long been a sticking point in Hollywood, and many creatives in the entertainment world have been reluctant to embrace the rapidly evolving technology and AI-powered tools. Outrage ensued when Tilly Norwood, an entirely AI-made character, debuted as the first “AI actor” in the fall. Questions about copyrighted characters, images and materials still loom large in conversations about AI. But many speakers in CES programming were optimistic about how the technology can be beneficial, and how AI could be used to help artists harness their creativity rather than stifle it or replace it.

“The tools that we create have unlocked something in us. It’s kind of flattened that bar in terms of what storytelling can be because anyone now can be a storyteller,” said Dwayne Koh, the head of creative at Leonardo.ai, during a Monday session on AI and creativity. “It levels the playing field, but it also makes it easier for people to tell stories that they always want(ed) to tell that they never could have the opportunity to tell.”

Others were quick to point out that Hollywood’s panic over emerging technology is not new.

“When we launched Photoshop in the ’90s, we were also getting pretty angry phone calls from creatives saying that we were destroying craft,” said Hannah Elsakr, Adobe’s vice president of generative AI new business ventures, at a Monday session focused on advertising.

“We’re in early days with AI. I’m not advocating for more cats jumping off diving boards in your feeds. I think it’s about high creativity and so the director, the artist, the actor is going to drive the high quality,” Elsakr continued. “Think of AI as another tool in the toolkit to make you drive that forward.”

Many conversations also centered on influencers and the growing legitimacy of internet-native creators and content in the traditional entertainment industry. The efficiency with which these creators work, sometimes because they are using AI-enabled tools, was a prime focus among many speakers.

Brad Haugen, the executive vice president of digital strategy and growth at Lionsgate and 3 Arts, said traditional media companies should welcome opportunities to work with creators and embrace their importance. “We have, potentially, the next great filmmaker, the next great TV showrunner, the next great digital entrepreneur,” he said. “Creators are not just there to market products. They’re not just there to do internet stuff. They’re actually the next Spike Jonze and the next Sofia Coppola.”

More entertainment-related programming is scheduled for Wednesday, with many sessions coming out of Variety’s Entertainment Summit at the showcase, including panels with leaders from Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery and actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

In addition to formal programming, a host of entertainment-related products and services are on display at CES. An array of impressive televisions with advanced features, AI-powered smart headphones, a “stringless smart guitar” and even a “sound chair” that has built-in audio were among the innovations aimed at bringing AI and advanced tech to entertainment consumers.

Amazon also announced the rollout of Alexa.com this week, bringing its AI assistant to the web with a host of new features, including personalized movie and TV recommendations. It’s one of many features designed to enhance at-home viewing, including the previously announced feature that enables Alexa to jump to a specific scene you’re searching for with just a simple description.

Angela Gozenput of home appliances and solution marketing and Aaron Westbrook of media entertainment and solution marketing, talk during an LG Electronics news conference ahead of the CES tech show Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

People walk past screens at the LG Electronics booth during the CES tech show Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)