The Anaheim Ducks will travel to Los Angeles for the first game of a back-to-back series against the Kings. The matchup is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on Victory+ and KCOP-13.
In an unusual move, the Ducks will wear their home orange jerseys while playing in Los Angeles, with the Kings donning their road white uniforms. For the return game at Honda Center, Anaheim will switch to their road whites as the Kings wear black third jerseys.
Anaheim recently ended a losing streak by defeating the Dallas Stars 3-1. This win was achieved without top scorers Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Cutter Gauthier. Head coach Joel Quenneville commented on the team’s performance: “It was a complete game,” Quenneville said. “We talk about the check-first mentality, but we had pace in our game, we had support, we had puck time and we had zone time … The guys really stuck together and dug down deep, and got a big two points for us [that we needed] in the worst way, and against all odds.”
Rookie Beckett Sennecke scored his first career game-winning goal during this match and extended his point streak to three games, accumulating six points over his last seven outings.
Looking ahead to tonight’s contest against Los Angeles, Quenneville emphasized maintaining a consistent approach: “We want to have the same mindset like we’re playing Dallas,” Quenneville said. “It’s simple and going to be straight ahead and check and check. This team probably is the stingiest, is playing a patient team-game, and trying to create is going to get you in trouble. Last time in here, we got a little bit of an education so let’s be ready to go playing the same way as we played the last game and knowing that’s something to build off of.”
With ten games left before the Olympic break—eight of which are against Pacific Division opponents—the Ducks face an important stretch. The Kings currently hold a two-point lead over Anaheim in divisional standings; tonight’s result could impact both teams’ playoff positioning.
Olen Zellweger discussed strategies for facing Los Angeles: “They play really tight defensively and try not to give up too much,” Zellweger said. “Neutral zone and D-zone, they they’re kind of backing in, always having numbers back. We have a lot of guys that can handle that. [The Ducks can have success] just kind of playing behind them and making it hard for them to break the puck out, and not giving them any power plays.”
The Kings have struggled recently with only one win in their last five games.
Chris Kreider’s availability remains uncertain for tonight’s matchup while Carlsson is listed as day-to-day due to a lower-body injury. However, both Terry and Gauthier are expected back according to Quenneville.
Additionally, Anaheim announced it has acquired left wing Jeffrey Viel from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick.
