ANAHEIM — A new season has brought the same old hierarchy to the Freeway Faceoff, which the Kings took comfortably from the Ducks for the second time in four days, 3-0, on Wednesday night at Honda Center.
The Kings also defeated the Ducks, 3-1, on Sunday in Ontario in the first of four preseason meetings.
Kings captain Anže Kopitar was playing in his first game for the last time, making his preseason debut in his 20th and final campaign as a King. However, it was mostly the fourth line coming through for the visitors.
Jeff Malott might have put a down payment on a roster spot by scoring a goal and setting up another by Martin Chromiak. Kevin Fiala added a late goal. Darcy Kuemper, who was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, stopped all 14 pucks fired at him.
The Ducks’ Lukáš Dostál allowed one goal on 18 shots before being replaced mid-game by Calle Clang after his goal crease collision with Kopitar. Dostal said the switch was planned and just a coincidence that it followed the collision.
The Kings out-shot the Ducks 12-4, drew the game’s first penalty and later scored the only goal of the first period.
Malott gained the zone, glided forward and found Chromiak in the inner part of the right circle for a wrist-shot goal in transition with 1:34 displayed on the clock.
In the second period, the Ducks needed more solid goaltending and last-ditch defending just to tread water. That was despite a pair of power plays and two minutes of four-on-four action. They still trailed 1-0 but were being out-shot 19-7 through 40 minutes.
With 12:18 left in the game, the Kings added an insurance goal when Mallot tipped Kyle Burroughs’ shot past Clang to make it 2-0.
The Kings cushioned that lead to 3-0 with 7:37 to play, when Alex Laferriere drove the net and then abruptly reversed the puck for a Fiala tuck-in tally.
More to come on this story.
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The Kings also defeated the Ducks, 3-1, on Sunday in Ontario in the first of four preseason meetings.
Kings captain Anže Kopitar was playing in his first game for the last time, making his preseason debut in his 20th and final campaign as a King. However, it was mostly the fourth line coming through for the visitors.
Jeff Malott might have put a down payment on a roster spot by scoring a goal and setting up another by Martin Chromiak. Kevin Fiala added a late goal. Darcy Kuemper, who was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy last season, stopped all 14 pucks fired at him.
The Ducks’ Lukáš Dostál allowed one goal on 18 shots before being replaced mid-game by Calle Clang after his goal crease collision with Kopitar. Dostal said the switch was planned and just a coincidence that it followed the collision.
The Kings out-shot the Ducks 12-4, drew the game’s first penalty and later scored the only goal of the first period.
Malott gained the zone, glided forward and found Chromiak in the inner part of the right circle for a wrist-shot goal in transition with 1:34 displayed on the clock.
In the second period, the Ducks needed more solid goaltending and last-ditch defending just to tread water. That was despite a pair of power plays and two minutes of four-on-four action. They still trailed 1-0 but were being out-shot 19-7 through 40 minutes.
With 12:18 left in the game, the Kings added an insurance goal when Mallot tipped Kyle Burroughs’ shot past Clang to make it 2-0.
The Kings cushioned that lead to 3-0 with 7:37 to play, when Alex Laferriere drove the net and then abruptly reversed the puck for a Fiala tuck-in tally.
More to come on this story.
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