The Los Angeles Kings did what they had to do in their own building to force a game 7 with the Anaheim Ducks.

Jake Muzzin scored early and the Kings never trailed in the game. The win who ended JOhn Gibson's five0game unbeaten streak at the NHL level. Los Angeles improved to 7-1 in postseason elimination games over the last two seasons.

The Ducks fell 2-1, in a game that really could have gone either way. Shots were 23-22 in favor of the Kings with Anaheim having several chances late in the game to try and force overtime, but Jonathan Quick and the Kings stood tall and kept the puck out of the net.

Now we face a game 7 for this epic Freeway Face-Off or Battle for So Cal or whatever we are calling it today.

Did any of us really think it would not come down to this?

The Kings are one of the NHL's best teams at dealing with adversity. Twice in this postseason they have strung together three consecutive losses and and instead of caving, they have gone 5-0 when playing for their playoff lives.

The same can be said for the Ducks. Down 3-1 in the third period and facing the possibility of a game 7 with the Dallas Stars, they mounted a ferocious comeback, won the game in overtime and broke the hearts of Texans everywhere.

In this series they trailed 2-0 and appeared to be a quick out (no pun intended) for the Kings. Freddie Andersen was struggling and then got hurt. Jonas Hiller has been consistently inconsistent. Then steps in Devante Smith-Pell and John Gibson and the Ducks win three-straight.

If there was one glaring weakness in the Ducks game 6 performance, it was the power-less play. The Kings held the Ducks scoreless on five power opportunities and it wasn't even close. To be honest, the Ducks never really had any decent shots on net with the man advantage and spoiled a great opportunity to bury their fiercest rival.

Anaheim looked as though they had turned they corner with their power play struggles. It has been much better in these playoffs and played a significant role in winning games 3,4, and 5. They had been 4-of-8 in those three games. It's lack of production proved to be the difference in game 6.

Gibson showed us that he is human after all by allowing a cotton-ball soft five-hole goal to Trevor Lewis. That goal proved to be the game winner and got us to where we are now...facing a do-or-die game 7 at the Honda Center on Friday night.

This is the eighth series of the 12 played during these playoffs to go the distance. Each series has its own identity, but this one is different. It features two Southern California teams battling for legitimacy within their own state and their own sport. The Ducks are playing for respect and to prove they belong in the same conversation as the league's elite. The Kings are playing to prove that they still rule the roost in Southern California's hockey market.

Not to mention, playing for the right to play the Chicago Blackhawks, an original six team, in the Western Conference Finals.

The winner reclaims bragging rights in the Golden State and would be the only non-original six team left in the playoffs. The New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens are playing for the Eastern Conference title.

This series has surpassed all my expectations. It has been well worth the wait and regardless of the outcome the fans of Southern California have been treated to some exceptional hockey. Heck, all hockey fans have been treated to exceptional hockey.

It would be fitting for game seven to a 1-0 quadruple overtime game. Who wins? Guess we'll find out in a couple of days.

Thanks for reading!

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