The Anaheim Ducks have been one of the best teams in the league during the lockout-shortened season and the squad is looking to continue their strong play as the playoffs approach when they take on the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center in a California rivalry game on Saturday night.
The Ducks have 27 wins in regulation this season and are in first place in the Pacific division over the Kings with just a few more games remaining until the postseason begins. The Ducks had a disappointing finish last year and the team is looking to avoid that this season, as they are about to clinch a playoff spot but lost to the Avalanche 4-1 on Wednesday in their first chance to get it. The team should get a boost from Ryan Getzlaf, who will be in the lineup after sitting out the past three games with an injury.
The Ducks enter the game on a 5-2-1 stream over the past stretch after losing to last-place Colorado and the team defeated Los Angeles 4-3 in a shootout last Sunday. Los Angeles is battling for playoff position as the season comes to a close and the team is coming into the game after a 3-2 win against Colorado. The team previously lost 5-1 against the Stars and are 6-2-2 during the past 10 matchups.
Getzlaf is leading the team in points and assists, while Corey Perry is leading the team in goals with 13 this season. Jeff Carter leads the Kings in scoring, while Kopitar is best in points and assists with 36 and 26 respectively. The Ducks are 27-9-5 in the Pacific division with 59 points and are one of the best scoring teams in the league with 2.9 goals per game, ranking seventh.
The Ducks are eighth in goals against and seventh in power play percentage and are 22nd in penalty kill percentage with 79.7 percent. The Kings are 23-14-4 this season with 50 points and are nine back from the Ducks in the Pacific division. The Kings are ranked eighth in scoring with nearly three goals per game and are allowing 2.4 per game, also ranked eighth in the league. The team is ranked 10th in power play percentage and 14th in penalty kill percentage with 82.2 percent.