In a quirk of the condensed 56-game NHL schedule, the Ducks and Kings will meet four straight times over the next six days, starting with tonight's tilt at Staples Center (7 p.m. PT on KDOC). It's actually five matchups over 12 days if you count Anaheim's disappointing 4-1 defeat in LA last Tuesday.
The Ducks are in desperate need of a win, let alone a win over the Kings, after having dropped four in a row, including three against the Vegas Golden Knights at Honda Center. Anaheim has been outscored 18-4 in those games and is looking for a spark as they head into the final eight games of this frustrating season.
"The thing for me is to stay upbeat and stay focused," Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said of his team's losing skid. "We put too much into winning streaks and we put too much into losing streaks. Our game yesterday has nothing to do with our game tomorrow. We're gonna play a different team, it's a new day, we're gonna have a different lineup. We need to focus on the right now and today and how to get better."
The blowout defeat in LA last week was an anomoly in Ducks-Kings lore, as 21 of the last 35 games between the two have been decided by one goal. The Ducks have won two of the four meetings in 2020-21, earning wins March 8 (6-5 in OT) and February 2 (3-1). Anaheim is 22-9-5 in the last 36 regular season games vs. LA.
Just who the Ducks will go to battle with tonight remains uncertain, as Josh Manson (upper body) and Isac Lundestrom remain day-to-day and captain Ryan Getzlaf left Saturday night's loss to the Golden Knights in the first period and did not return.
Eakins reported yesterday that Lundestrom had a full day of practice with the team but Manson did not. "Getzy wanted to go out, but I just thought it would be better if we gave him another day," he said.
Getzlaf is probable for tonight's game in LA.