The Los Angeles Kings head down the I-5 to face the Anaheim Ducks in their second-of-four meetings, this season.
This California rivalry known as the Freeway Face-Off, extends back to December 2nd, 1993 with the Kings leading the series 82-61-11-17 all-time.
LA is coming off a huge win against the league leading Winnipeg Jets, picking up a 4-1 victory and moving firmly into third-place in the Pacific Division. The Kings held the Jets to just fourteen SOG, with only four in the second half of the game.
The Ducks also won on Wednesday, 5-2, against the Seattle Kraken. Goaltender John Gibson stood on his head, posting a .956 SV% on forty-five shots faced. Forwards Cutter Gauthier, Alex Killorn, and Trevor Zegras all finished the game with one goal and one assist a piece.
In their first meeting on October 20th, 2024, in Anaheim, LA came out the victor. That game is the only win the Kings have recorded on the road against Pacific Division teams, this year; with a 1-4-0 record thus far.
BLACK & WHITE FRIDAY
While retail stores are specializing in giveaways, so too will the Anaheim Ducks who currently average 13+ giveaways per game.
LA was able to capitalize on this in the last meeting when Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe forced a pass which Kings forward Alex Laferriere intercepted and converted into a goal.
Of the Ducks' 283 total giveaways, this season, 49.82% have come in their own zone.
According to NHL Edge, Anaheim spends 25 minutes in their own zone, and LA spends 25 minutes in the opposition's zone. If thirteen is the magic number for giveaways, six would come from the Ducks' own zone – about once every four minutes.
A strong forechecking effort by the Kings could limit breakout chances for the Ducks, resulting in swift scoring chances.
TURDUCKEN
After getting to spend Thanksgiving at home, the Ducks are looking to even the series 1-1 and not lay another egg.
Los Angeles defeated Anaheim in last season's Freeway Face-off series, 3-1; the Ducks' lone win on home ice.
That was the only win the Ducks have garnered in their last ten meetings with the Kings.
This season, Anaheim are 4-6-1 at home, four of those regulation losses against Pacific Division opponents. As noted earlier, the Kings haven't had a great road record against Pacific Division teams this season, so the Ducks could very easily reverse this trend.
Through all-eleven games played at the Honda Center this season, the Ducks have kept things close with 30 GF and 38 GA. Only 20% of their goals have been scored on the power play, producing at a 14.6% rate (lower than their collective home-away season total of 15.6%).
TURC-EY
You'll often hear how statistics don't define the impact a player has on their team. Kings forward Alex Turcotte would be the embodiment of that.
In the Kings' win on Saturday against the Kraken, Turcotte made an excellent pass for a primary assist on Adrian Kempe's goal. The latter's expression told the story: that was all you, Turc!
Because of his strong play and lineup versatility, Turcotte was promoted to the second power play ahead of Wednesday's contest – a game where he finished with one assist and four penalty minutes.
-"The second [penalty] was really tough, first one you just [have to] manage your stick," said Los Angeles' head coach, Jim Hiller.
Hiller didn't seem too bothered or phased by Turcotte's penalties, and probably enjoys seeing a little snarl and personality from a young player coming into his own.
Puck drop is slated for 12:35 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app.