The Los Angeles Kings have their sights set on sweeping a and-home series with the Anaheim Ducks when the two Pacific Division rivals square off again tonight from the Honda Center.
Los Angeles wrapped up a successful homestand with Wednesday's 2-1 win in a shootout at Staples Center. Justin Williams scored in the seventh round of the shootout and Mike Richards tallied in regulation for the Kings, who finished a successful 3-1 homestand after a season-high five-game losing streak (0-3-2).
Jonathan Quick made 23 saves in the victory.
"We can't be too happy. They got a point out of it, but to get two points is always good," Quick said.
The Kings will play three of their next four games on the road and are 3-2-2 as the visitor this season. Richards has three goals in his last four games after scoring just two in his first 14 contests.
Anaheim has lost eight of nine games (1-5-3) and owns just two wins in its past 13 games. In last night's loss to the rival Kings, Ryan Getzlaf scored in the shootout and Teemu Selanne added a goal in the third period on a power play. Jonas Hiller stopped 36-of-37 shots in defeat.
"We looked nervous early. We really didn't get our game going until the last part of the game," Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle said.
It was the Ducks' sixth straight loss on the road and they will play two straight and eight of the next nine games at home. Anaheim is 4-4-0 at home this season and has scored just two goals or less in seven of its last nine contests,
Los Angeles and Anaheim are playing the second of six meetings this season on Thursday. Anaheim won four of six meetings with the Kings a season ago and had a three-game winning streak in the series halted last night.
The Kings have lost eight of 12 and 12 of their past 19 trips to Anaheim.
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