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Los Angeles Kings Pick Up 1 Point, Fall to Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in OT

By Eric Fleischmann

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Wednesday night the Los Angeles Kings were able to force overtime and pick up a point, before ultimately falling to the Anaheim Duck 3-2 in overtime.

As is typical of the ‘Freeway Face-off’ rivalry, the game was hard-fought and tight.  Neither team led by more than one goal all game.

A huge open-ice hit by Kings captain Dustin Brown on Ducks star Corey Perry, gave the Kings the momentum.

Immediately after the hit a scrum ensued.  The results were penalties to Brown, and Ducks players Clayton Stoner and Simon Despres, putting the Kings on a 5-4 power-play.

L.A. was able to capitalize and open the scoring.

After recovering a clear Drew Doughty skated the puck up-ice.  The Kings broke into the Ducks zone in a perfectly staggered five-man across.  As soon as the crossed the blue line Kopitar dished the puck over to Jeff Carter for the perfect power-play “drop and deliver”.

No goals were scored in the second period.

45-seconds into the third the Ducks tied it up.  After dominating play in the Kings zone after the puck dropped, Patrick Maroon one-timed a pass from Ryan Getzlaf past Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick from the top of the crease.  Maroon was able to fight off his check and get some good wood on the puck, flipping it over Quick’s left arm.

Seven minutes later the Ducks struck again.

Jakob Silfverberg slapped a rebound into the back of the Kings net.  Jonathan Quick was extremely upset.

Ducks forward Nate Thompson came bursting into the Kings zone, moving right to the front of the net.  Thompson was slightly bumped, propelling him towards Quick.  Thompson made no effort to avoid the goaltender, making it impossible for Quick to come up with the save.

Whether it was a bad call or not didn’t matter.  It was 2-1 Ducks.

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Things were starting to look dire with five minutes left in the game.  The Kings were getting good chances, but couldn’t sustain pressure.

Then with 4:14 left Justin Williams – Mr. Game 7 – took a pass from Jake Muzzin, made a nice cut with the puck, deked, and put a shot between the legs of Ducks goaltender John Gibson.

KingsNation went crazy.

L.A. got pressure and had a few opportunities right after the goal, but they couldn’t finish.  Both teams held on as time wound down and regulation expired.

Mar 18, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) celebrates after scoring the game winning goal during the overtime against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center. The Anaheim Ducks won in overtime 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

45 seemed to be the secret number for the Ducks tonight.  45-seconds into overtime, the King killer – Ryan Kesler took the puck in the corner and walked out along the top curve of the left circle.  No one stepped up to Kesler, so he fired a shot high to the far corner, beating Quick through a screen and ending the game.

In 5 games against the Kings this season, Kesler had 5 goals and 7 points.  On the season, in 72 games Kesler has 18 goals, and 45 points.  That means 27% of Kesler’s goals have come against the Kings in 5 games.

The good news is the Kings got a point out of the game, giving them 82 on the season.  That’s one point more than the Calgary Flames, giving the Kings 3rd place in the Pacific Division.

The bad news is the Kings lost out on a much-needed second point.

The Kings end the regular season series 1-1-3 against the Ducks.  Four of the five games this season went into extra time.

Jeff Carter picked up his 25th goal of the season, his 9th on the power-play.  Carter has 3 goals in 5 games.

Justin Williams picked up his 18th goal of the season.  Williams has 2 goals and 6 points in his last 5 games.

Jonathan Quick had a tremendous game despite the loss.  Quick came up with a big save in the second period that hit his blocker and nearly rolled over his shoulder trickling into the back of the net.  Obviously the controversial goal was upsetting, but it’s out of Quick’s hands.

L.A.’s next game is Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks.  Puck-drop is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PST at Staples Center.

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Mar 18, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; The Anaheim Ducks celebrate after a goal scored by Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (not pictured) during the overtime against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center. The Anaheim Ducks won in overtime 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

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