Fiala and Moore score in a 44-second span in 3rd in the Kings' 4-2 win over Utah

Fiala and Moore score in a 44-second span in 3rd in the Kings’ 4-2 win over Utah

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Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) fights with Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) warms up prior to the game against Utah Hockey Club during warm ups of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley (92) overshoot the puck against Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12), left wing Warren Foegele (37) and goalie Darcy Kuemper during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Los Angeles Kings defense Vladislav Gavrikov (84) passes the puck against the Utah Hockey Club during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Los Angeles Kings defense Vladislav Gavrikov (84) passes the puck to teammate defense Joel Edmundson (6) against the Utah Hockey Club during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club center Jack McBain (22) moves the puck on the ice against Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

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Utah Hockey Club celebrate the goal made by Utah Hockey Club right wing Utah Hockey Club left wing Lawson Crouse (67) against Los Angeles Kings during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Melissa Majchrzak)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kevin Fiala and Trevor Moore scored in a 44-second span early in the third period and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Utah Hockey Club 4-2 on Thursday night for their third straight victory.

Fiala gave Los Angeles — second in the Pacific Division — a 2-1 lead at 4:06 with a snap shot for his 29th goal. Moore added his 18th at 4:50, beating Karel Vejmelka with a backhander.

Adrian Kempe scored his 33rd of the season for Los Angeles and Drew Doughty added an empty-netter. Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves.

Lawson Crouse and Jack McBain scored for Utah.

Vejmelka made 15 saves in his 19th straight start. The streak is the longest by an NHL goalie since Kuemper started 22 in a row for Arizona in 2019.

Takeaways

Kings: Los Angeles plays five of its final seven games of the regular season at home as it tries to catch Vegas for the division lead.

Utah: Failed to build on consecutive victories in Chicago and at home against Calgary as its playoff hopes fade.

Key moment

Kuemper made 16 saves in the scoreless first period, while Vejmelka faced only three shots.

Key stat

The Kings won 55.7% of the faceoffs.

Up next

Both teams play Saturday. The Kings host Edmonton to open a four-game homestand. Utah hosts Winnipeg.

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