Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller and his squad defeated a Pacific Division rival for the second time in as many days on the road in the preseason this fall, defeating the Anaheim Ducks in a 3-0 shutout victory on Wednesday night. The Kings kept pressuring the Ducks' defense and goalie Lukas Dostal for the game's first two periods, taking an early 1-0 lead just five minutes into the first period last night.
Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings defeat the Anaheim Ducks in the preseason for the second time early this week and since last weekend
Two third-period goals in clutch time sealed the win for the Kings to move to 3-0 in the preseason schedule this fall. Darcy Kuemper registered a 14-save shutout in net for the Kings, and forward Jeff Malott stayed red-hot in the offensive zone for Hiller and the LA staff with one goal and two total points vs. the Ducks on Wednesday.
Here's a look at what Hiller had to say for the Kings following the convincing 3-0 win over the Ducks in the preseason at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sep. 24.
Hiller on tonight's win vs. the Ducks
"I’ll tell you what, I thought the first two games, we have younger lineups and usually young guys are hungry and they’re out there skating. So tonight, with our top six forwards in, you get your top d-pair in, you worry that it’s preseason and you sag a little bit, but I thought guys just went out and played like the young guy, they skated and did the right things."
Hiller on Jeff Malott
"Yeah, he’s played well. Obviously, we liked him at the end of last year; we played him a fair amount. I think he put on – I talked to him a little bit about it – he’s really a fit guy, but he put on about seven or eight pounds of muscle. I think I’m noticing some of that. I think he’s a strong guy to begin with. I think he’s a little stronger out there, a lot of confidence, and yeah, playing really well. Looks like an NHL player."
Jim Hiller shared that Jeff Malott put on 7-8lbs of muscle over the summer and believes it’s showing in his game.
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) September 25, 2025
Hiller on Drew Doughty playing more minutes on the ice for the Kings vs the Ducks
"I would say more like his old self. Yeah, I think it’s a notable, noticeable difference. I think you guys watch a lot of us, too, and I’ve said this many times, you know what he went through to even play last year. Now, he’s had a great summer, I think he’s feeling good about the shape he’s in. He’s feeling good about where his foot’s at. I just think he’s going to continue to get better, and it’s good to see him doing some of the stuff that we’re used to seeing him do."
Hiller on Brandt Clarke for the Kings' blue line
"We talked the other day, I had a hope and an expectation that he would be here, and for me, what he’s shown is he’s here. Coming into this camp, I was hoping he was here, and he showed me he’s here, and that’s both ways. So it’s just one of the great things about coaching is winning, but the other one is to see a guy like Brandt, with all that talent and promise and emotions come in and see him in 12 months to see where he is today."