The Anaheim Ducks Stun the Los Angeles Kings in a Thrilling Freeway Faceoff!
Black Friday brought more than just shopping deals; it delivered a hockey showdown! The Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings, locked in a fierce rivalry known as the “Freeway Faceoff,” clashed in their first meeting of the season. The stakes were high, with the Kings vying for a Western Conference Wild Card spot and the Ducks leading the Pacific Division.
First Period: A Slow Burn with a Kings’ Edge
The Kings struck first, with forward Alex Laferriere lighting the lamp, assisted by Trevor Moore and Brian Dumoulin. It took a while, almost 18 minutes, for the first goal to be scored, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle. Los Angeles also got an early power play opportunity. The Kings edged out the Ducks in shots on goal, 9-7, but the Ducks dominated faceoffs, winning 63.2%, and were also strong in hits, blocked shots, and takeaways.
Second Period: Ducks Fight Back
The second period saw the Ducks kill off a penalty to start. Then, they got their own power play, which they capitalized on! Chris Kreider scored just 10 seconds into the Ducks’ power play to tie the game, with assists from Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson. But the Kings quickly regained the lead with a goal from Kevin Fiala, assisted by Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke. However, the Ducks answered again, with Olen Zellweger tying the game once more, thanks to Alex Killorn and Carlsson. A late unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Clarke gave the Ducks another power play, but they couldn’t convert. Despite the Kings’ goalie, Kuemper, playing strong, the period ended tied 2-2, with the Ducks dominating shots on goal 11-5.
Third Period and Overtime: A Rollercoaster Finish
Turcotte put the Kings ahead with his first goal of the season, assisted by Clarke and Dumoulin. Then, Edmundson extended the lead to 3-2. But the Ducks fought back, with Pavel Mintyukov scoring his first goal of the season, assisted by Beckett Sennecke and Mason McTavish. With time running out, the Ducks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker, and Carlsson scored with about 90 seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. Overtime was a stalemate, with the Ducks having four shots to the Kings’ two. The game went to a shootout, where the goalies, Husso and Kuemper, faced intense pressure. Terry scored in the shootout, and McTavish sealed the Ducks’ 5-4 victory.
What are your thoughts on this exciting game? Did the Ducks’ comeback surprise you? Share your opinions in the comments!