Good morning, Anaheim Ducks fans! Last night was a big win over the New Jersey Devils to punctuate the homestand, but the Ducks are right back in action with a quick trip up to Staples Center to face the Los Angeles Kings. Just as the Ducks retired the jersey of Teemu Selanne on Sunday, the Kings will be retiring the jersey of Rob Blake.
The Kings are in the midst of their own extended homestand: the Ducks mark their sixth opponent of a seven-game stretch at the Staples Center. The Kings are 1-2-2 and clinging onto the second wild-card spot, as their 50 points in the standings puts them ahead of the Calgary Flames, who have 49. The goaltending duo of Jonathan Quick and Martin Jones has not been strong in this stretch: excluding a shutout against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, the two are a combined 0-2-2 with a 4.94 GAA and .792 SV%.
However, the Kings have eked into the postseason each of the past few seasons, winning 10 of a possible 11 playoff rounds, including eight of nine series where they did not have home-ice advantage. The Kings are a tricky opponent, and despite their regular-season inconsistencies, they are the defending Stanley Cup champions and a dangerous team to overlook. The Ducks will need the same effort they brought against Toronto and New Jersey tonight.
Plenty happened across the league, so here are some Ducks and NHL news to get the morning started.
More from Ducks News
- Who could the Anaheim Ducks consider presenting offer sheets to?
- Is Pierre-Luc Dubois on the cards for the rebuilding Anaheim Ducks?
- Making the case for the Anaheim Ducks to trade with the Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks might benefit tremendously by trading John Gibson
- How close are the Anaheim Ducks to becoming contenders again?
Frederik Andersen shrugging off the NHL All-Star Game snub (Orange County Register)
Confidence helping Sami Vatanen give Anaheim Ducks a boost (LA Daily News)
Anaheim Ducks receive interesting e-mail, suggesting playing a “fat guy” in net (Ducks)
Andersen making a difference in goal for the Anaheim Ducks (LA Daily News)
Yay for Seth Jones, nay for the Buffalo Sabres and tanking (TSN)
Evgeni Malkin may never reach his full potential for the Pittsburgh Penguins (Pens Labyrinth)
Colorado Avalanche goalie Reto Berra scores goal in AHL game (NHL)
Will the New York Rangers be overpaying for Marc Staal? (Blue Line Station)
Dan Carcillo nails Mathieu Perreault with vicious cross-check (Puck Daddy)
Two trades the Washington Capitals should have never made (Stars and Sticks)