Los Angeles Kings (33-25-12) vs. Anaheim Ducks (30-30-11)
The Anaheim Ducks looked very good in beating the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night but that was then. - Tonight they face a whole different challenge when they host the LA Kings at Honda Center.
The hated Kings try to win for the fifth time in six meetings against the Ducks as the Southern California rivals collide in an important game for both teams.
With 78 points, Los Angeles is seven points ahead of Anaheim and one of five teams within six of sixth-place Chicago for the final three postseason berths in the congested Western Conference race.
If the Ducks want to keep their slim postseason hopes alive they have to figure out a way to slow down the Kings suddenly potent offense. Goals had been at a premium for Los Angeles for most of the year but in their last seven games they have averaged nearly 3.5 goal a game, going 5-2-0 during that stretch.
The Kings have also been excellent on the penalty kill. In their last ten games, having killed all 32 power play opportunities against them. The Ducks have been inconsistent at best with the man advantage scoring just one power play goal in their last four games. If they are to secure the "W" tonight they must turn that trend around and fast.
Anaheim , meanwhile has absolutely no room for error. The Ducks have to win all their remaining games in regulation if they want to have any chance of playing hockey in mid-April.
Jonas Hiller will be manning Anaheim's goal for the 31st consecutive time. Hiller has been outstanding at the Honda Center recently, including the shutout against Detroit, going 6-1-0 with a 1.55 goals-against average over his last seven home starts. He’s also played very well against the Ducks freeway foes, going 7-2-0 with a 1.66 GAA and two shutouts in his career.
His counterpart Jonathan Quick has been fantastic for LA in his own right. Quick is 29-19-11 with a sparkling 2.00 goals-against average and seven shutouts. But, the Kings netminder has cooled off a bit since the All-Star break, especially on the road. In his last six games away from Staples center, Quick is 2-3-1 with a 3.47 goals-against average.
Quick is 4-4-0 with a 3.01 GAA in nine career visits to the Honda Center.
The Ducks cannot lose. It's as simple as that. The last time these two clubs met I thought it would make or break Anaheim's playoff hopes and for the most part it has. The Ducks are 2-2-1 and dropped from six to ten points out since their 4-2 loss at Staples Center 13 days ago.
With Corey Perry likely to sit out again tonight it looks like it's up to the rest of the forwards to pick up the slack again. Will Kyle Palmieri be the hero once again or will somebody else step up and carry the Ducks offense?
I really don't have a bold or edgy prediction to make other than I think the Ducks will put together a better effort this time around against the Kings. We have to think about tonight as game two of a twelve game single elimination tournament in which a loss keeps the Ducks from moving on.
Let's Go Ducks
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