Ondrej Kase and Ryan Kesler scored first period goals to stake the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-0 lead over the Kings in Los Angeles Saturday night.
“We need points, simple as that,” Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said. “Every game is very important against division foes and Western Conference foes. These are four-point games. We’re going to have to play a more consistent brand as we go forward. Hopefully we can do enough to give ourselves a chance.”
The improved to 20-15-9 but they are in a world of hurt in the standings with everyone around them winning and chasing the Vegas Golden Knights.
John Gibson made 23 saves for the win as the Ducks found a way to pick up two points in an intra-divisional game.
“Any time you can come off a break, come energized and play the first period we did, I thought guys went out and stuck up for each other right away. That set the tone for the whole night,” the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf said after the crucial win. “These guys have been playing great hockey. They’re a measuring stick for our group. We have to be able to win these games.”
Kase also scored in the third period when the two clubs traded goals and Corey Perry added a goal as well.
Anze Kopitar and Nick Shore struck for goals for the Kings.
“I thought we had a lot of guys that showed up ready for the physical challenge, we had some guys that didn’t and it cost us, so that’s a good lesson for us,” LA head coach John Stevens was quoted on the Kings web site. “We cannot win in a game like that unless we have everybody, and we needed more tonight.”
[WATCH: All Ducks vs. Kings highlights]
Jonathan Quick made 18 saves in taking the loss.
“It’s tough. You play Anaheim, you obviously want to win those games that are a huge rivalry,” LA’s Alex Iafallo said. “We’ve got to have a good start. It all started in the first period, and the next game we’ve got to play all three periods.”
The Kings dropped to 24-14-5 with their third straight loss.
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