
The LA Kings wrapped up their preseason schedule on Saturday, with a 4-3 shootout loss against the Anaheim Ducks. It was the final opportunity for both teams to fine-tune a few things before the games count in the standings.
Saturday also marked the first time the Kings looked at Trevor Moore as a potential 4C while Quinton Byfield recovers from the fractured ankle.
Tonight’s @LAKings Line Rushes –
Arvidsson – Kopitar – Brown
Iafallo – Danault – Kempe
Tkachev – Vilardi – Andersson
Lemieux – Moore – KaliyevAnderson – Doughty
Bjornfot – Roy
Edler – WalkerQuick
Petersen— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) October 10, 2021
Here's who we fly with tonight:
⚔️
Comtois – Steel – Terry
Henrique – Zegras – Rakell
McTavish – Lundestrom – Silfverberg
Grant – Groulx – Jones
🛡️
Lindholm – Pateryn
Fowler – Manson
Drysdale – Shattenkirk🥅 Gibson – Stolarz
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 10, 2021
Period One
- Two minutes in: Phillip Danault‘s line generates a few scoring chances. Alex Iafallo gathered a rebound and appeared to have a wide-open net, but Ducks’ netminder John Gibson makes a terrific save to keep the game scoreless. Unlike their previous game with the Ducks, it was good to see the Kings be more aggressive to start this game.
- Six minutes in: Ducks have a hard time clearing their one zone because of the Kings’ heavy forecheck, particularly Viktor Arvidsson. Aggressive forechecking was a point of emphasis for head coach Todd McLellan coming into this season.
- Zegras goal: Great job by Trevor Zegras to win the faceoff from the left dot and skate toward the net, where he re-directs Kevin Shattenkirk‘s shot past Jonathan Quick. Of note, Zegras won the faceoff against Danault.
- Six minutes left: Dustin Brown‘s delay of game with a puck over the glass gives Anaheim the first powerplay of the game.
- Vilardi’s first goal: Vladimir Tkachev creates time in space along the blue line before carrying the puck toward the net. He fires a shot at Gibson, and Vilardi knocks home the rebound. The Tkachev – Vilardi – Andersson line has been buzzing all preseason. And a great play behind the net from Lias Andersson to regain possession.
1-1 Vilardi(2)-ASST: Tkachev(4), Walker(1): https://t.co/gBhsnkYIYH #GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/3HFH8sh9Sp
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) October 10, 2021
- Under one minute left: Doughty cross-checks Zegras into the boards, and he’s called for a penalty.
Period Two
- Four minutes in: Good to see Sean Walker carrying the puck through the neutral, dishing it to Dustin Brown, who sends the puck across the ice to Arvidsson for a one-timer that Gibson stops. I could get used to seeing more of that.
- Vilardi’s second goal: Vilardi buys some time in space, firing the puck from the high slot and into the top left corner of the net – a beautiful goal. Credit Bjornfot for keeping the puck in the Kings’ attacking zone.
2-1 Vilardi(3)-ASST: Kempe(2), Iafallo(2): https://t.co/qhTZUCcsO3#GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/wJNhSvq61c
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) October 10, 2021
- Henrique goal: A goal you could feel coming – Quick had to make a couple of other big saves before Zegras carried the puck back into the Ducks’ attacking zone, finding Adam Henrique with a nifty pass who fired it past the KIngs’ netminder.
- Eight minutes left: Kopitar finds Arvidsson in the slot right in front of Gibson, but the Kings’ forward is denied. A lot of good looks for No. 33 in this one.
- Four minutes left: Lemieux draws a hooking penalty. Acquired mid-season last year, he’s had a strong preseason, and he’ll provide the Kings a lot of value on the fourth line.
Forward Lias Andersson will not return to tonight's game due to a lower-body injury
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) October 10, 2021
Period Three
- One minute in: The Kings with a lot of good puck movement to open the final frame. Again, Arvidsson establishes his position in front of the net, but Kopitar’s pass attempt to him doesn’t get through.
- Three minutes in: Bjornfot’s stretch pass from his own goal to Arvidsson goes just wide, and the latter gets crunched into the boards, drawing a penalty. Arvidsson went straight to the locker room.
- Tkachev goal: With Arvidsson out, Tkachev gets a look on the Kings’ second powerplay unit, finding some space and ripping a shot past Gibson.
3-2 (PPG) Tkachev(1)-ASST: Walker(2), Danault(2): https://t.co/p58ONguzuV#GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/YdYOVhMoHe
— Eric (@kingsgifs2) October 10, 2021
- Six minutes in: Lemieux and Kaliyev get matching cross-checking penalties, giving the Ducks a full two-minute 5-on-3 advantage.
- Comtois goal: That didn’t take long.
- One minute left: The Kings’ possessed the puck for most of the last minute but couldn’t score. Free hockey.
Overtime
- One minute in: Ducks with a great look as Cam Fowler fires the puck on Quick. Zegras whiffs on the rebound.
- Under two left: Tkachev draws a boarding penalty from Max Jones.
Shootout
- Vilardi scores
- Zegras misses
- Kempe misses
- Shattenkirk scores
- Kopitar misses
- Comtois scores
The Kings’ regular season begins on Thursday, hosting the Vegas Golden Knights. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm PT.
WATCH: Vladimir Tkachev just sniped an insane powerplay goal