3 takeaways from the LA Kings preseason win vs. the Ducks

Head coach Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings opened up the first of seven exhibition games this fall in the preseason against the Pacific Division and crosstown rival in Southern California, the Anaheim Ducks, in the Empire Classic on Sunday afternoon.

Anaheim started the goal scoring early in the first period on the scoreboard, netting a nice goal from forward Nikita Nesterenko a few minutes into the game for the Ducks. Less than four minutes later in the first period, Alex Turcotte knocked home a rebound for the Kings to tie the game at one a side.

Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings defeat the Anaheim Ducks in the first preseason game in Ontario in the Empire Classic

Defenseman Brandt Clarke assisted Turcotte for the game's first goal for Los Angeles early in the first period.

Despite the Ducks getting over a dozen shots on goal in the game's first half in the Empire Classic this afternoon, Kings' starting goalie, Carter George, kept LA in the game on the scoreboard. George stopped over 20 Anaheim shots on goal, including multiple highlight-reel saves in the second period of the game.

The scoring remained quiet for both the Kings and Ducks until Alex Laferriere broke the tie in the middle of the third period with a clutch shorthanded tally on a two-on-one with Turcotte.

The Kings and Andre Lee put the game away with an insurance empty-net goal in the game's final two minutes in the third period to seal the 3-1 win over the Ducks to move to 1-0-0 this preseason for the Empire Classic today.

Here are three takeaways from the Kings' two-goal win over the Ducks in the preseason opener in the Empire Classic on Sep. 21.

Alex Turcotte brings life to the Kings' offense

When the Kings needed someone to step up and respond after the Ducks scored the game's first goal early in the first period this afternoon, Turcotte answered the call less than five minutes later with a tally of his own.

Since last preseason in 2024, Turcotte has now scored two goals and four total points in just four games played. He was the MVP of the game this evening for the Kings, including the first multi-point game of the preseason for either team for LA and the Ducks.

Turcotte was a part of the two-on-one goal that Laferriere scored that resulted in the game-winning goal for the Kings.

Special teams and the backstopping with Carter George boosts the Kings on the other side of the ice

The Kings got the edge over the Ducks, getting the lead on the scoreboard for the first time in the game a little over five minutes into the third period.

Despite the Ducks having multiple opportunities with the special teams on the power play in the third period, George and the Kings stood tall and even scored the game-winning goal shorthanded in the middle of the third period.

The Kings did a tremendous job of limiting the Ducks' power play shots with the special teams on the penalty kill. On the Ducks' first two power plays of the third period, Anaheim only had one shot on goal.

In fact, there was a point in time in the middle of the third period when the Kings had just as many shorthanded shots on goal as the Ducks had power play shots on goal on special teams.

The Ducks pressured George in the game's first two period. Him standing strong in goal for the Kings allowed LA to put its foot on the gas when the forward group settled in the third period and put the puck in the net a couple of times to seal the win over Anaheim.

George remained calm and composed in net, as he has looked for the Kings organization in the minor league system over the past year and in the Golden State Rookie Faceoff win this past week over the Ducks.

Quinton Byfield impresses with speed and puck control

One of the underrated performances from this game for the Kings against the Ducks was center Quinton Byfield. The Kings' young two-way center Byfield looked really good on the ice this evening for LA, controlling the pace of play when the puck was on his stick blade against the Ducks in the offensive zone.

I thought it was great to see the jump in the legs that Byfield had for the Kings early in this game in the first period vs. Anaheim. Byfield did a good job of limiting what the Ducks were able to do in the defensive zone at the center position for the Kings, and he helped to create some chances and shots on goal for LA offensively this evening.