Kings rally past Ducks, close in on playoff berth

LOS ANGELES --The Los Angeles Kings closed in on a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 4-2 win against the Anaheim Ducks at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.

Anze Kopitar had two assists, including his 700th in the NHL, and Arthur Kaliyev had a goal and an assist for the Kings (43-27-10), who have won four straight and moved seven points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for third in the Pacific Division. Vegas has four games remaining.
"I think we are where we want to be," said Kings center Quinton Byfield, who had two assists. "Like you said, win and you get in. You don't want to leave it up to anyone else, so it's a great feeling right now and a great feeling in the locker room. A lot of guys haven't been there, and I think it's going to be a great experience. We have a lot of veterans as well who've been there, and they're going to show us the way."
Jonathan Quick, who was making his sixth straight start, made 19 saves.

Trevor Zegras scored, and Ryan Getzlaf had an assist in his last NHL road game for the Ducks (30-35-14), who were coming off a 2-1 loss to the Kings on Tuesday. Anthony Stolarz made 36 saves.
"Our guys are playing as hard as they can," Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said. "It's certainly not any fun going down the stretch like this, but I do give our guys credit. They're sticking together. We're in games against playoff teams. We can't ask much more."
Matt Roy tied it 2-2 at 11:33 of the second period on a one-timer from the right point.
Alexander Edler put Los Angeles back in front 3-2 at 6:21 of the third period when his shot from the blue line deflected in off Ducks center Isac Lundestrom.
"Tonight, Edler and Roy, good to see those two [score] because they've had some tough minutes lately against some pretty good players, more in a checking role, shutdown role," Kings coach Todd McLellan said. "So to see them contribute, it's a real good thing."

Alex Iafallo shot into an empty net at 19:35 for the 4-2 final.
Kaliyev gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 10:04 of the first period, scoring on a quick shot near the right post after Byfield passed him the puck off a rebound in front.
"I was going to shoot, and then I saw 'Arty' just winding up as he always is," Byfield said. "Doesn't matter where you are, he's always winding up for a one-timer, so I saw him in just a perfect spot."
Zegras tied it 1-1 at 3:34 of the second, scoring on a wrist shot from the right circle on a power play. It was his 58th point (22 goals, 36 assists), passing Bobby Ryan (57 in 2008-09) for the most by a rookie in Ducks history.
"I think individual records come from good teams, and I can't score out there by myself," Zegras said. "I played with a lot of good players since I've been here. Some are still here, some are gone, so I think it's a compliment to them. But it doesn't mean a whole lot to me, to be completely honest."
Getzlaf, who sent the cross-ice pass to Zegras, will play his final NHL game against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
"Usually when you see a guy retire, he's been pushed down the lineup," Eakins said. "Ryan Getzlaf is going to retire our No. 1 center. There's nobody close to him right now, and that's quite remarkable."
Gerry Mayhew put Anaheim ahead 2-1 at 9:06 of the second on a miscue by Quick. Mayhew chipped the puck in on goal from the neutral zone, and Quick had the puck bounce over his stick as he was attempting to clear it away.
"With 'Quickie's' play for us, maybe it was better that it went in that way than a real good play because the guys buckled down and wanted to play for him," McLellan said. "So it's a sign of a good team and guys playing for one another."

NOTES: Kopitar is the second player in Kings history with 700 assists, joining Marcel Dionne (757). … Byfield's multipoint game was his second in the NHL. … Ducks forward Derek Grant sustained an upper-body injury in the first period and did not return.