The Los Angeles Kings concluded their preseason with a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory against the Anaheim Ducks. This win brought the Kings’ preseason record to 5-2-0, showcasing their competitiveness ahead of the regular season.
Kings vs. Ducks: Game Highlights
The Kings opened the scoring just five minutes into the game. Quinton Byfield netted a power play goal, receiving a pass from Andrei Kuzmenko. Byfield shot from the bumper position, surprising Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal, thus giving the Kings an early lead.
Halfway through the first period, the Kings doubled their advantage. Defenseman Brandt Clarke made a critical play, passing to Joel Edmundson, who took a one-timer. The rebound fell to Phillip Danault, who scored on his second attempt, making it 2-0.
Before the first intermission, the Kings struck again. Clarke fed Warren Foegele at the back post, leading to a quick slam-dunk goal, extending their lead to 3-0.
Overtime Drama
The second period was quiet, with no goals scored. However, the Kings maintained their momentum, and early in the final period, Danault scored his second goal of the game with a powerful one-timer, assisted by defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin, increasing the lead to 4-0.
As the game progressed, the Ducks fought back. Mikael Granlund managed a wraparound goal, initially ruled out, but later confirmed by the Situation Room as crossing the goal line. This marked the Ducks’ first goal.
Shortly after, Leo Carlsson netted another for Anaheim, pulling the score to 4-2. The Ducks mounted a comeback, scoring two goals within 27 seconds. Carlsson scored again, followed by a deflection from Mason McTavish that tied the game, pushing it into overtime.
Decisive Overtime Goal
In overtime, after the Kings successfully killed a 4-on-3 penalty, Kevin Fiala sealed the game with a stunning one-timer from the right circle. This goal, assisted by Foegele, handed the Kings a 5-4 victory.
Player and Coach Insights
- Phillip Danault: Highlighted the strong line chemistry and mentioned the success of their power play.
- Joel Armia: Emphasized the significance of maintaining a strong mentality entering the regular season.
- Head Coach Jim Hiller: Noted the challenges ahead and the need for the team to improve their play during crucial moments.
Looking ahead, the Kings will have a practice session at the Toyota Sports Performance Center on October 6, as they prepare for the regular season opener. Their performance against the Ducks showcased both resilience and skill, setting a hopeful tone for the games to come.
