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VIDEO: Ducks Can’t Hold Off Kings

Photo: AP

By Michael Walters

The Anaheim Ducks hosted the Los Angeles Kings for one of two final games at Honda Center this season. John Gibson got the start in net and Ryan Miller will start in Saturday’s home season finale to properly send him off for his retirement.

Jonathan Quick was in net for LA. Ryan Getzlaf did not play in this game(resting no injury), but he will be in for Miller’s last home game.

Game Recap

The Ducks got off to a good start getting in on the forecheck and putting pressure on the Kings defense. Haydn Fleury would score just over 5 minutes into the game on a rocket of a slap shot.

At the end of the first period tempers started to flare and Sam Carrick and Austin Wagner both got roughing penalties. It was at least the second time this season that Carrick had blood on his face(largely due to his visor).

In the middle frame the Ducks poured it on outshooting the Kings 19-6. Anaheim had two power plays and probably one of their best non-scoring extra man sessions. With Jamie Drysdale quarterbacking the power play the Ducks had the puck in the Kings zone for almost the full two minutes.

Despite the strong play of the Ducks in the second, Jonathan Quick stopped everything he saw. The Kings pushed backed in the third, but the Ducks still held a 1-0 late in the game. Things looked like the game might end a 1-0 Ducks win, until a defensive breakdown led to Lias Andersson scoring with about 5 minutes to go.

Then with just under a minute to go, Anze Kopitar stormed the Anaheim net and got Gibson to go down early as he switched the puck to his backhand and slid it past him to make it 2-1. The Ducks went from winning 1-0 to losing 2-1 in the span of about 4 minutes.

Analysis:

Despite losing this was one of Anaheim’s best performances. By the end of the second period, the Ducks were outshooting the Kings by almost a 2-1 margin(29-15). Trevor Zegras looked very comfortable at center. He even made a between the legs reverse pass near the LA net. Jamie Drysdale did an excellent job quarterbacking the Anaheim power play.

Hopefully the Ducks keep the Max Comtois, Trevor Zegras, and Troy Terry line together. They nearly made it a 2-0 game in the beginning of the second period and that might have changed the outcome of this one. Overall the team played well for about 55 minutes, but then couldn’t hold on in the final 5.

Team Notes/Stats:

Fleury scored his first goal as an Anaheim Duck.

What’s Next?

The Ducks host the Kings tonight for the season home finale at 7 PM PT.

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April 30th, 2021

 

 

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