ONTARIO –– Both Southern California NHL franchises began their preseasons on Sunday in the I.E., with the Kings topping the Ducks, 3-1, in the Empire Classic at Toyota Arena.
Alex Turcotte scored a goal and assisted on a shorthanded tally by Alex Laferriere. Andre Lee tacked on an empty-net goal, 1:26 before the final horn. Carter George was calm and collected, denying 27 bids.
Nikita Nesterenko opened the scoring in the game with the Ducks’ solitary goal. Ville Husso made 31 of 33 saves.
The final frame effectively ended with Lee’s empty-netter and began with the Ducks on their first of three unsuccessful power plays. Their first opportunity came and went with a whimper, and their second gave the Kings their first lead of the afternoon off Laferriere’s undermanned marker with 13:49 remaining in the match.
Laferriere, who signed a three-year contract extension worth $12.3 million this offseason, was elusive along the wall before dishing to Turcotte, whose point-blank bid left a rebound for Laferriere to stuff home.
The second stanza resulted in the game’s first penalty, called against Ducks blue-liner Tristan Luneau, but the best chance for the Kings on the power play might have been a shorthanded two-on-one, where Nesterenko nearly set up offseason trade acquisition Ryan Poehling for a go-ahead goal.
The Ducks opened the scoring a mere 1:25 into the contest by way of Nesterenko’s shot from above the right circle that redirected in off the Kings’ Kyle Burroughs.
But three minutes later, Brandt Clarke weaved through the defense to break down the Ducks’ structure before he banked a pass off Husso’s pad that spoon-fed Turcotte at the back post.
Turcotte nearly added a second goal with 4:32 to play in the period, but his attempted finish of a give-and-go play hit the post and then narrowly failed to cross the goal line.
There was also a bit of hostility, with Ducks defenseman Noah Warren and Kings center Samuel Helenius dropping their gloves, and an early upper-body injury to Ducks forward Jansen Harkins. He was checked into the boards and left with apparent discomfort on his right side. Harkins did not return to the game and was seen with his right arm in a sling.
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Alex Turcotte scored a goal and assisted on a shorthanded tally by Alex Laferriere. Andre Lee tacked on an empty-net goal, 1:26 before the final horn. Carter George was calm and collected, denying 27 bids.
Nikita Nesterenko opened the scoring in the game with the Ducks’ solitary goal. Ville Husso made 31 of 33 saves.
The final frame effectively ended with Lee’s empty-netter and began with the Ducks on their first of three unsuccessful power plays. Their first opportunity came and went with a whimper, and their second gave the Kings their first lead of the afternoon off Laferriere’s undermanned marker with 13:49 remaining in the match.
Laferriere, who signed a three-year contract extension worth $12.3 million this offseason, was elusive along the wall before dishing to Turcotte, whose point-blank bid left a rebound for Laferriere to stuff home.
The second stanza resulted in the game’s first penalty, called against Ducks blue-liner Tristan Luneau, but the best chance for the Kings on the power play might have been a shorthanded two-on-one, where Nesterenko nearly set up offseason trade acquisition Ryan Poehling for a go-ahead goal.
The Ducks opened the scoring a mere 1:25 into the contest by way of Nesterenko’s shot from above the right circle that redirected in off the Kings’ Kyle Burroughs.
But three minutes later, Brandt Clarke weaved through the defense to break down the Ducks’ structure before he banked a pass off Husso’s pad that spoon-fed Turcotte at the back post.
Turcotte nearly added a second goal with 4:32 to play in the period, but his attempted finish of a give-and-go play hit the post and then narrowly failed to cross the goal line.
There was also a bit of hostility, with Ducks defenseman Noah Warren and Kings center Samuel Helenius dropping their gloves, and an early upper-body injury to Ducks forward Jansen Harkins. He was checked into the boards and left with apparent discomfort on his right side. Harkins did not return to the game and was seen with his right arm in a sling.
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