Ducks Edge LA Kings to Overtake Pacific Lead

Game 64; 38-22-4

LOS ANGELES — As expected, it was another wild affair between the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. It was a contest filled with a plethora of hostility but unfortunately for the Kings, they came out on the losing end to the Ducks for the second time in less than a week. This time, they were edged by a 3-2 count at STAPLES Center.

With the win, the Ducks picked up their 11th-straight thanks to goals by Ryan Kesler, David Perron and Jakob Silfverberg — the latter two coming on the power play. Speaking of which, of the nine goals the Ducks scored on the Kings since last Sunday, five have come on the man-advantage.

The silver-and-black were able to counter, however, scoring both of their goals on the man-advantage. Milan Lucic and Drew Doughty scored for Los Angeles while Vincent Lecavalier, Anze Kopitar, Lucic and even Jonathan Quick supplied the assists in a losing effort.

As for Quick, he stopped 19 shots but it was Anaheim’s Frederik Andersen who had the better afternoon between the pipes as he made 32 saves en route to the win.

Some bad news for the Kings in this one came on the injury front as Kris Versteeg left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury. He had left following his fight with Rickard Rakell. His status for Monday night has yet to be determined.

More bad news for the Kings is that with the loss, they have now surrendered first place in the Pacific to the Ducks, who continue to roll.

Next up for the Kings will be the Vancouver Canucks who they will play host to on Monday night.