Kings Aim to Extend Duck Dominance in Pivotal Home Clash

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles Kings are set to face the Anaheim Ducks tonight at Crypto.com Arena, aiming to extend their dominance over their Southern California rivals. This matchup marks the third meeting between the two teams this season, with the Kings winning both previous encounters in Anaheim.

The Kings, who are six points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for home-ice advantage in the Pacific Division, are looking to secure crucial points before the upcoming four-nation break. Forward Adrian Kempe leads the Kings with 15 goals against the Ducks over the last five seasons, tied for the most in the NHL during that span.

LANEีช回隊: Forward Alex Laferriere has contributed two goals and three points against the Ducks this season, while Alex Turcotte has added a goal and an assist. The Kings did not hold a morning skate today due to a back-to-back schedule, and goaltender Darcy Kuemper will miss the game due to personal reasons. Pheonix Copley has been recalled from the AHL’s Ontario Reign on an emergency basis.

The Ducks, meanwhile, are riding a five-win streak in their last six games, including a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. Anaheim forward Troy Terry leads the team with eight points (3-5-8) in 12 games against the Kings over the last four seasons.

“We’ve got to make sure that all hands are on deck and then we’ll relax for a bit,” said Kings captain Anze Kopitar, emphasizing the importance of focus heading into the break. The Kings have played three games in four nights this week, with tonight’s game being their final before a two-week hiatus.

Tonight’s game also marks a milestone for Kings forward Trevor Lewis, who will be honored for playing in his 1,000th NHL game. Lewis, known for his defensive reliability and penalty-killing expertise, has been a consistent presence in the league despite not being a top scorer or enforcer.

“It’s staying in the moment,” said goaltender Darcy Kuemper. “It’s a long break, so just empty the tanks. We know how big every point is going to be the rest of the way, so we’ve just got to keep playing the same way.”

The Kings will be without defenseman Mikey Anderson, who is on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Anderson is expected to rejoin the team after the break. The Kings’ coaching staff, led by Jim Hiller, who recently reached his 50th win as head coach, will look to maintain their strong home performance, with a 17-3-1 record at Crypto.com Arena this season.

The puck drops at 7:30 PM PT, with the Kings aiming to maintain their momentum heading into the break. This game promises to be a thrilling clash between two teams vying for playoff positioning in the competitive Pacific Division.