The Kings won their fourth straight game and fifth of six last night, Saturday, April 23 when they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Just four nights after beating the Ducks 2-1 in Anaheim, the Kings picked up their third straight win against their biggest rival this season, tightening their grip on a playoff spot with just two games remaining in the regular season.
In front of a sold out Crypto.com Arena on Fan Appreciation Night, the Kings opened the scoring when the fourth line connected for a beautiful ice-breaking goal. After a shot from Carl Grundstrom failed to find the back of the net, a streaking Quinton Byfield grabbed the rebound in the slot and found a wide open Arthur Kaliyev back door for the put away. Kaliyev's goal was the 14th of the season for the rookie. His 14 goals as a rookie is the most since Adrian Kempe scored 16 during the 2017-18 season.
Following a power play goal and an even strength goal from the Ducks, the Kings quickly responded quickly 2:26 later with a Matt Roy slap shot goal to even the game at two a piece. Assisting on Roy's goal was Anze Kopitar, who in doing so picked up his 700th career assist. Scoring the go-ahead goal for the Kings was another blueliner, Alex Edler. Edler received the puck directly off of a Byfield face-off win and wristed a shot through traffic resulting in the puck finding the back if the net.
Alex Iafallo would add an empty net goal, giving the Kings the two goal lead and win.
In net again was Jonathan Quick who made his sixth consecutive start, stopping 19 of 21 Ducks shots.
With the Kings victory on Saturday, the team's magic number to clinch the playoffs is now two. Meaning, if the Kings earn two more points in total over the next two games OR the Vegas Golden Knights earn less than seven of eitght points in their last four remaining games, the Kings will clinch a playoff birth.
4/23 FINAL - Kings 4, Ducks 2
With a win over the Ducks on Saturday night, the Kings magic number is now just two to clinch a playoff spot
Kopitar, Kaliyev, Byfield each notch 2 points in win
