A few more takeaways before the final days of the regular season.
One more update: Both the Kings and Ducks clinched home ice in the first round of the playoffs after San Jose lost to Winnipeg.
Positioning vs. level of play
Both teams have been saying for weeks they want to be playing their best heading into the playoffs, rather than worrying about their placement in the division.
Anaheim Coach Bruce Boudreau summed it up again, aptly.
“I’ve been on teams that have won 10 in a row going into the playoffs and I’ve been on teams that have lost five in a row,” he said. “And the opposite of what you think is going to happen, happens.
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“They play great or they play bad. We’ll be ready for the weekend and we’ll be ready next week. It’s simple as that.”
More strangeness for the Ducks
They’ve had an odd and wide array of ailments and injuries.
On top of it all, they played the Kings without their highest-scoring defenseman, Sami Vatanen, who has nine goals and 38 points.
Vatanen came down with the flu. He took part in the morning skate and seemed fine, the Ducks said. He was fine then ... and later he wasn’t.
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Excellence on the penalty kill by the Kings
The Ducks entered the game with the league’s top power play but were denied against the Kings. They went 0 for 3 on the man advantage.
“Our PK was huge, I think we did a really good job on the forecheck and in the neutral zone,” Kings captain Dustin Brown said.
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Ducks goalie John Gibson makes a save against Kings center Vincent Lecavalier during the third period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Kings right wing Dustin Brown and Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler fight for control of the puck during the third period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Kings left wing Tanner Pearson tries to work the puck around the defense of the Ducks during the third period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Winger Milan Lucic (17) is a prized free agent who is unlikely to return to the Kings. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) knocks the puck away from the goal before Ducks center Mike Santorelli can get to it during the second period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Kings right wing Kris Versteeg celebrates along with teammate Brayden McNabb after scoring against the Ducks in the second period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Ducks forward Jamie McGinn tries to clear the puck as teammate Corey Perry (10) and Kings defensemen Jake Muzzin and Drew Doughty converge along the board during the second period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Kings goalie Jonathan Quick looks to make a save as Ducks right wing Chris Stewart tries to redirect a shot during the second period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Ducks center Ryan Garbutt falls to the ice after getting tangled with Kings left wing Andy Andreoff during the second period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Kings right wing Dustin Brown drives into the crease against Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm as goalie John Gibson prepares for a shot during the first period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Kings right wing Dustin Brown knocks Ducks defenseman Hampus Lindholm into goalie John Gibson during the first period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Ducks goalie John Gibson and defenseman Hampus Lindholm watch along with Kings left wing Tanner Pearson as the puck sails wide of the goal during the first period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Ducks center Ryan Kesler is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against the Kings in the first period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Ducks goalie John Gibson makes a glove save against the Kings during the first period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler tries to knock the puck away from Kings center Anze Kopitar during the first period.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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“We didn’t have as many rush plays coming in. They’re a good rush team and a good down-low team. But I think we limited their opportunities in the offensive zone by playing good before that.”
Lisa Dillman is a former sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times; she left in 2016. She has covered the Kings, the Ducks, the Clippers, professional tennis, soccer and Olympic sports at five Summer Games and two Winter Games for the newspaper since 1992.
