Los Angeles @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 30, 2019 ) Winnipeg 1, Los Angeles 2

The Los Angeles Kings have won just four times in 17 games since Jan. 1, but visit the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday after Tyler Toffoli’s night to remember Saturday. The Kings' forward recorded the first hat trick in an outdoor game in NHL history - scoring twice in the final minute - as Los Angeles beat Colorado 3-1 at the Air Force Academy, giving the last-place team in the Western Conference its second consecutive victory after a five-game losing streak.

“I think that’s the most nervous I’ve ever been putting the puck in an empty net in my life,” Toffoli told reporters after his second multi-goal game of the season gave him 18 goals in 2019-20. The Kings play 14 of their next 16 games at home, but first travel to Winnipeg to face a Jets team that is 5-2-1 in its past eight games after Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Chicago. The Jets, who began the week one point out of the final playoff spot in the West, got offense from an unexpected source as defenseman Nathan Beaulieu scored his first goal of the season 1:36 into the third period to snap a 2-2 tie. “We knew how important that win was for us,” Beaulieu told reporters postgame. “Just the points in the standings. It wasn’t our best game, but you’ve got to win those games at important, key times.”

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS West, TSN3

ABOUT THE KINGS (21-33-5): Toffoli was named the NHL's third star of the week Monday after scoring four goals in two games last week, and is two shy of reaching 20 for the fourth time in his career. Goaltender Jonathan Quick made 15 saves in the first period Saturday and turned away 32-of-33 shots overall to snap an eight-game winless streak and earn his first win since Dec. 31. Center Anze Kopitar recorded two assists Saturday, giving him four in his past two contests.

ABOUT THE JETS (30-25-5): Beaulieu scored his first goal since Nov. 27, 2018 for Buffalo, and added an assist to give him six points in 27 games this season. Forward Mason Appleton finished with a goal and an assist against Chicago, and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov added two assists to match his point total in his previous 13 games. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who had surrendered seven goals in losing his previous two outings, made 31 saves Sunday.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg F Patrik Laine recorded an assist Sunday for his ninth point (seven goals) in his past nine contests.

2. Los Angeles F Alex Iafallo had two assists Saturday, giving him nine points (six goals) in his past 11 games.

3. The Kings are 2-0-0 against the Jets this season, as Kopitar scored the game winner in a 3-2 victory Oct. 22 in Winnipeg and former Kings G Jack Campbell made 33 saves in a 2-1 triumph Nov. 30 in Los Angeles.

PREDICTION: Jets 4, Kings 2