The Los Angeles Kings look to continue their roll toward the playoffs when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.
In what has been an up-and-down season in Los Angeles, the Kings (41-25-11, 93 points) seem to once again be hitting their stride as the postseason approaches. Los Angeles is on a three-game winning streak, including a 6-3 statement win over the Pacific Division-leading Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
“We’re excited. I think we’re also kind of paying attention to the standings,” said Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who had a goal and an assist against Vancouver. “We just want to move up as high as we possibly can. We don’t care who we face. We’re just worrying about ourselves.”
The Kings are battling the Vegas Golden Knights for third place in the Pacific Division, with a Western Conference wild-card berth as a potential backup plan for whichever team finishes fourth. Los Angeles is six points ahead of the St. Louis Blues, the first team in the West out of a wild-card spot.
Anaheim (25-48-5, 55 points) couldn’t play spoiler to the Blues’ chances on Sunday, though the Ducks at least took the game beyond regulation in a 6-5 shootout loss. The Ducks trailed 5-3 with 12 minutes remaining in the third period before Frank Vatrano and Leo Carlsson scored to force overtime.
“I liked how we came back,” Vatrano said. “I liked the way we responded and played that game. … (The defensemen) were connected to the forwards, forwards were connected to the D. When we’re playing like that, it’s fun.”
The Ducks have the third-fewest points in the NHL and are 2-12-2 in their past 16 games.
Vatrano leads Anaheim with 55 points (32 goals, 23 assists) this season.
Adrian Kempe leads Los Angeles with 71 points (27 goals, 44 assists). Kempe has eight points (five goals, three assists) during an ongoing five-game point streak.
The Kings’ short trip to Anaheim represents their last road game of the regular season. The Kings have a solid 22-14-4 record in away games, while the Ducks’ 25 home points (from an 11-25-3 record) are the fewest in the league.
Los Angeles is 5-for-15 on the power play over its past five games, and the hot streak seems likely to continue against Anaheim’s struggling penalty kill. The Ducks’ penalty-kill percentage of 72.5 is the second worst in the NHL, and opponents are 12-for-32 on power plays over Anaheim’s past seven games.
Cam Talbot stopped 39 of 42 shots against the Canucks and will likely be back in the Los Angeles net on Tuesday.
Lukas Dostal will probably get another start for the Ducks, as John Gibson has missed Anaheim’s past four games with an undisclosed injury. Veteran goaltender Alex Stalock was called up from the AHL on Friday to serve as Dostal’s backup but has yet to play in an NHL game this season.
The Kings are 8-0-0 in their past eight games against the Ducks dating back to the 2021-22 season. This dominant run includes two victories this season — a 5-2 win in Anaheim on Nov. 24, and a 3-2 shootout win in Los Angeles on Feb. 24.
–Field Level Media
