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GDT: Ducks VS Kings 03/18/2015

Baltic Gal

Baltic Gal

Moderator
Ducks VS Kings


03/18/2015

In Anaheim, CA

@7:30PM Pacific Time


Preview:

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[h=1]Plenty at Stake Tonight as Ducks, Kings Conclude Freeway Faceoff[/h]
KINGS (34-22-13) at DUCKS (44-20-7)


TV: NBCSN, SN


The Latest: The Pacific Division-leading Anaheim Ducks (44-20-7, 95 pts.) reach the halfway point of a three-game homestand tonight when they host the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center (7:30 p.m. PDT, NBCSN/AM 830). Co-leading the NHL in standings points (with NYR, STL and MTL), the Ducks own the second-most wins through 71 games in franchise history, trailing only the 2013-14 club (46-18-7). Anaheim also has the most standings points (46) and wins (21, tied with 2013-14 club) through 35 road games in team history. The Ducks are 9-4-0 in their last 13 games and have scored 26 third-period goals in those 13 contests (2.0 per game). Anaheim has the top intra-conference record among Western Conference opponents, posting a 30-9-5 mark for a .739 points percentage. The Ducks are 15-3-0 vs. the Central Division, co-leading NHL teams in wins and ranking second in points percentage (.833). The club is also 15-6-5 vs. the Pacific, having won four of the last six (4-2-0). The current homestand will conclude against Colorado on Friday (7 p.m. PDT).


Ducks-Kings: The 2014-15 Freeway Faceoff concludes tonight at Honda Center with the Ducks holding a 3-0-1 lead in the five-game season series vs. the Kings. The first three contests went beyond regulation (including a 6-5 shootout Ducks win on Nov. 12 and a 3-2 shootout Ducks win on Jan. 17) before a 4-2 Anaheim victory on Feb. 27. The Ducks have won seven of the last eight regular-season games vs. the Kings dating to a 4-0-1 season series win in 2013-14. Six of the last eight Ducks-Kings games have been decided by one goal. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, the Ducks have scored 63 goals to the Kings' 61 (shootout goals excluded) in 25 games. In addition, both teams have posted 14-7-4 (Anaheim) and 11-9-5 (Los Angeles) records since 2010-11. All-time, the Ducks are 56-41-24 vs. the Kings, including a 32-13-16 mark in Anaheim.


Ducks team scope: Defenseman Sami Vatanen termed himself day-to-day after practice Tuesday. There was no confirmation if Vatanen, who has missed more than a month because of a leg injury sustained Feb. 15, immediately would return to the lineup. Despite missing the past 14 games, Vatanen ranks tied for 12th among league defensemen in power-play points (17) and tied for second in power-play goals (7). He has 12 goals and 34 points in 57 games this season, and has already set career highs in goals, assists (22), points, power-play goals and shorthanded goals (1).


“I have to say, I feel pretty good,” Vatanen said. “I can’t wait to get on the ice and play hockey again. I’ve been lifting weights for the past three weeks, so I should be big and strong when I get on the ice. I think I’m ready to play, so we’ll see what the lineup is. It’s a big game, and what better game to come back to than that?”


Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau says the decision of who to take out of the lineup isn't an easy one. “It may be [Wednesday], it may not be,” Boudreau said, on Vatanen's return. “The defense has played pretty good the last couple games. It’s a tough decision on who to take out to allow Sami in, even though he was arguably our best defenseman for the first three quarters of the year."


Anaheim opened a three-game homestand Sunday with a four-goal rally in the third period for a 4-2 win against the Nashville Predators. Forward Ryan Getzlaf, who started the comeback, has three goals in as many games. The Ducks' 44 wins are the second-most through 71 games in franchise history; last season they had 46 wins at this point.


Kings team scope: Defenseman Alec Martinez, who hasn't played since Feb. 7 because of concussion-like symptoms, was a full participant at practice Tuesday, but coach Darryl Sutter wouldn't commit to a timetable for his return. Forward Tanner Pearson, who broke his left leg Jan. 10, joined his teammates near the end of practice and remained on the ice afterward for extra work. The Kings' penalty kill has been successful on 40 of its past 42 attempts in 15 games after killing off two Arizona Coyotes power plays in a 1-0 win Monday. Jonathan Quick's shutout was his sixth of the season and 37th of his career. He has allowed five goals in his past five starts. Defenseman Brayden McNabb assisted on the goal by forward Andy Andreoff on Monday and has four assists in as many games.


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