The Anaheim Ducks faced the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night for the third Freeway Face-Off meeting of the season. With the Kings holding a record of 29-17-7 and the Ducks at 24-24-6, the Kings lost 2-1 in shootout.
David Rittich protected the net for the Kings, while Lukáš Dostál tended goal for the Ducks. The Kings honored Trevor Lewis’s 1,000th game with a spectacular tribute video before puck drop. Drew Doughty was named to Team Canada for the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, joining Sweden’s Adrian Kempe in the tournament. Mike Buckley serves as the goalie coach for Team USA, and Darren Granger as the equipment manager for Team Canada.
Scoreless After One
Both Dostál and Rittich were sharp in the opening period, making several key saves to keep the game scoreless. A scuffle in front of Dostál’s net led to a tripping penalty on Isac Lundeström, giving the Kings the first power play. Despite the opportunity, Los Angeles couldn’t convert. The first 20 minutes were a whirlwind, yet no goals were scored. The Kings, visibly frustrated, headed to the locker room empty-handed.
No Luck in Second
After a scoreless opening frame, the teams took to the ice for the second period, anticipating another action-packed frame. Dostál continued his strong play, turning aside a number of quality chances from the Kings. Brandt Clarke was sent to the penalty box for tripping Cutter Gauthier, but the Ducks’ power play was unsuccessful. Despite increased offensive pressure from both sides, the period concluded with the score remaining 0-0. The Kings outshot the Kings 15-10 and dominated in hits by 12-10 and in face-offs won by 23-10.
Third Time’s the Charm
The final 20 minutes began with Anže Kopitar winning the face-off against Lundeström and attempting a shot, which was blocked by Dostál. The Kings received another power play opportunity when Ryan Strome was penalized for hooking Trevor Moore, but they failed to score. Midway through the period, Brian Dumoulin broke the scoreless tie with a wrist shot, giving Anaheim a 1-0 lead. The Kings haven’t had the best of luck when it comes down to their scoring chances in tonight’s game as they previously recorded 9 goals in 7 games. In dramatic fashion, Adrian Kempe extended the night by scoring a backhand shot as the final period ended tied 1-1.
OT (And Shootout) We Go
The goaltending stole the show in overtime. Both netminders made incredible saves, denying scoring chance after scoring chance. The period ended without a goal, leading to a shootout. Kempe and Fiala missed their attempts in the shootout, while Trevor Zegras scored. Leo Carlsson then clinched the win with the game-winning goal.
