There’s a lot on the line today.
While any Kings and Ducks game almost always means more, this one is extra special.
In all reality, Friday afternoon brings a battle for first place in the Pacific Division — making today’s matchup the most important game played at the Honda Center in nearly a decade.
After some early season disparity, both sides entered the Thanksgiving break having played 23 games. Anaheim currently sits atop the Division with 29 points and a record of 14-8-1. LA is just one tick behind them at 28 points and a record of 11-6-6. Whichever team comes out on top today will be ahead in the standings.
Now, when was the last time the Kings and Ducks played in a game that actually mattered? It’s not a stretch to say there probably hasn’t been a Freeway Faceoff with real juice behind it since 2015.
As both SoCal clubs have undergone significant roster retooling over the last six seasons, the groups that fueled SoCal’s hockey rivalry leading to their 2014 postseason gauntlet are essentially gone. Now, that passion and animosity appears to be returning in new form, as the Kings and Ducks prepare to meet up for the first time this season.
Let’s face it, Los Angeles has dominated Anaheim the past four seasons. The Kings were a playoff team, and the Ducks were not. However, hockey fans in Orange County are hoping the dog days are over and that their team’s postseason drought will come to an end next spring. Meanwhile, coach Jim Hiller and his LA squad may have their hands full with Anaheim’s new high-flying offense.
Take Leo Carlson, for example, a young superstar in the league who continues to improve nearly every game. A true top-line centerman who drives play for his line. Or, how about Cutter Gauthier, Beckett Sennecke, and veteran Chris Kreider? The point is, this team can’t be taken lightly. There’s a reason both squads are battling for first place heading into puck drop today.
It’s a big game for both sides, but LA will attempt to make it just another regular season game. Perhaps it means more to the Ducks, to prove to themselves and the Kings that they’re back in the picture as a legit threat in the Pacific Division. Under new head coach Joel Quenneville, they’ve become a dangerous, fast, and talented group that is sure to revitalize the longstanding rivalry between these two clubs.
As for the lineup, Hiller will have some choices to make. Warren Foegele remains a question mark for today — a topic LA’s bench boss will likely address during his pregame meeting with the media at 11:45am. Should No. 37 be unable to go, Jeff Malott and Alex Turcotte would be viable options to draw in on the fourth line.
Statistically Speaking
— Los Angeles went 3-0-1 against Anaheim last season.
— Forwards Adrian Kempe (8G, 4A) and Kevin Fiala (8G, 3A) each have eight goals in their last eight matchups vs. Anaheim at Honda Center, dating back to the 2021-22 season. No player has notched more points in O.C. over that span than Kempe’s 12.
— Anze Kopitar is set to play in his 94th career regular-season game vs. Anaheim and 49th at Honda Center. No player has registered more points against the Ducks in League history than Kopitar’s 90. His 42 points at Honda Center place second-most all-time, while his 17 goals rank second behind Shane Doan (19 G).
— Kopitar has recorded 3,357 shots on goal (SOG) in his career and is now just three shots away from tying Dustin Brown (3,360 SOG) for the second-most in Kings franchise history behind Marcel Dionne (3,848 SOG).
What You May Have Missed
For more Kings-Ducks talk, including a debate on Hiller’s current line combinations and defensive pairings, be sure to check out this week’s KOTP episode:
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Ducks
If there are any key changes during pregame warmups, this article will be updated.
Kuzmenko – Kopitar – Moore
Fiala – Byfield – Kempe
Armia – Danault – Laferriere
Malott * – Helenius – Perry
Anderson – Dumoulin
Edmundson – Clarke
Moverare – Cecia
Kuemper
Forsberg
* Foegele’s status is TBD and will be updated closer to game time
Likely scratches: (F) Foegele, Turcotte and (D) N/A
Injured Reserve: Doughty
Key Game Info
Puck drop is set for 1:00 pm Pacific Time and will be televised locally by FanDuel Sports. Additionally, a Kings radio feed is available on the ESPN LA app.
Get to know new Kings play-by-play voice John Kelly by checking out his interview here. He tells some interesting stories about joining the Kings broadcasts and what it was like calling games against them for most of his career.
Across the Ice
Anaheim is coming off a 5-4 loss to Vancouver on Wednesday. Here’s how they lined up in that matchup:
Gauthier – Carlsson – Sennecke
Kreider – McTavish – Terry
Vatrano – Strome – Killorn
Johnston – Harkins – Nesterenko
LaCombe – Helleson
Mintyukov – Gudas
Zellweger – Trouba
Mrázek
Husso
Injured: Granlund, Poehling, Dostal
On This Day in Kings History
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