For the back end of back-to-back games in a home-and-home series for the Freeway Faceoff, the Los Angeles Kings (19-16-13) and Anaheim Ducks (24-21-3) played another close and overtime game in the Pacific Division on Saturday night (Jan. 17). This is the third time this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division that the Kings and Ducks have gone to overtime or a shootout in this past few months.
Adrian Kempe and Anton Forsberg stand out in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim this weekend
Kings' starting goalie Anton Forsberg was tremendous in net for the Kings, making over 30 saves and helping the team get the extra point in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division in overtime yesterday. Forward Adrian Kempe registered the game's only goal for the Kings vs. the Ducks yesterday, tying up the game on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period vs. Anaheim.
But the Ducks got a game-winning goal on an odd-man rush on 3-on-3 in overtime on a goal from forward Mikael Granlund to win the game by a score of 2-1 in extra time in the Pacific Division. Yesterday was the second straight win and the third overall for the Ducks in extra time this regular season in the West over the Kings.
Here are three takeaways from the Kings' frustrating 2-1 overtime loss to the Ducks in the back end of back-to-back games in the Pacific Division on the road on Jan. 17.
Adrian Kempe nearly delivers a lead for the Kings in clutch time
Jim Hiller and the Kings got a much-needed offensive boost of momentum in the game's second period in the middle frame yesterday with a nice goal to tie the game up on the scoreboard by Kempe. On the 5-on-3 two-man advantage on special teams in the middle frame, Kempe wired one past the Ducks' goalie for the Kings' first goal of the game on the road.
Kempe registered the game's only goal on special teams on the power play for the Kings yesterday vs. the Ducks on the road in Anaheim. The Kings went a woeful 1-for-6 on special teams on the power play yesterday vs. Anaheim, despite going a perfect 3-for-3 on special teams on the penalty kill unit.
There was a chance late in the game in the third period in the final frame and in extra time in overtime on a break for Kempe to register the possible game-winning goal in clutch time for the Kings. But he had multiple high and medium-danger scoring chances yesterday vs. Anaheim offensively that either hit the post or were stopped by the Ducks.
Anton Forsberg gave the Kings a chance to win the game yesterday
Two of the biggest stars of the game yesterday on the ice for the Ducks and Kings in the Pacific Division were the goaltenders in net for each team. Forsberg and Ducks goalie Ville Husso stood on their heads in the game's third period in the final frame yesterday, stopping a combined over a dozen scoring chances and five high-danger scoring chances in the game's final 20 minutes (per Natural Stat Trick).
"Forsy’s played well for a while. It took him a little time to settle into the team but if you look at his body of work over the last couple months, you have to be nothing but impressed. I thought the two saves he made on the the penalty kill late there, those were obviously a chance for us to come back and win the game, so those were really important. He just looked solid. He moved the puck, he was very poised, so it looks like he’s getting really comfortable."Jim Hiller on Anton Forsberg
Forsberg stopped a season-high over two-dozen scoring chances vs. the Ducks in the Pacific Division offensively yesterday night in the back end of back-to-back games.
Had it not been for the play of Forsberg for the Kings yesterday in net, I'm pretty confident saying that the team would not have gotten a point in the standings in the West in overtime.
The Kings turned to Forsberg in net yesterday for LA in place of starting goalie Darcy Kuemper vs. the Ducks in the Pacific Division. He stopped over 30 shots and posted a sparkling .939 save percentage and just one goal allowed in regulation vs. the Ducks yesterday for the Kings defensively.
The Kings have tied the all-time record for the most overtime games in the regular season's first 48 games.
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) January 18, 2026
T-1. LA Kings (2025-26): 20
T-1. Panthers (2002-03): 20
T-1. Oilers (1999-00): 20
T-4. Canucks (1999-00): 19
T-4. Golden Knights (2025-26): 19 pic.twitter.com/FgTjDdbrH4
Something needs to change
I don't see anything showing urgency or any type of change in the locker room, with the current active roster lineup, or in the front office with new general manager Ken Holland for the Kings this regular season in the West. The team has only won six of its last 20 games in the West this regular season, even though the Kings still remain in the playoff picture in the standings this month in late January.
"This group, we compete every night for each other, and it’s kudos to the group to still battle and not get. I know, obviously, guys are frustrated, but we’re staying with it together. The only way we’re going to get out of this is doing it together and trying to play the right way and hopefully get some bounces our way. This group battles every single night, and that’s the frustrating thing, because the effort is there, it’s just we haven’t been able to get the results that we’d like. "Warren Foegele
The Kings need to start winning more games if this team wants to get across the finish line in the Pacific Division standings in the West this regular season to make the playoffs this upcoming spring in the postseason.