In the standings, the Kings are chasing the Ducks. But in reality, the Ducks are still doing some chasing of their Freeway Faceoff rivals after being knocked out of the playoffs by Los Angeles last spring.
Against the Kings this season, they've won three out of the last four matchups, coming from behind in the third period in one game and spoiling Rob Blake's jersey retirement in another. Wednesday night at the Honda Center, they'll get their final shot before the postseason.
"I've got to believe that both teams aren't really enamored with each other," said Ducks' coach Bruce Boudreau. "We just want to beat them for us. We're not completely in there yet but at the same time there's a lot for us to play for to get ahead. We'd like to be first, but it's not the most important thing, but it puts us two points away from clinching a playoff spot which is the important thing."
With the Kings momentarily holding on to the final Wild Card playoff spot in the Western Conference, another Freeway Faceoff postseason series is likely. For the Ducks, a win against the Kings Wednesday is crucial in helping to knock the Kings out of the playoffs completely.
"We hope they don't make it," Boudreau said. "They're a great team and they're the Stanley Cup Champions and all three years (since I've been here) they've been in the final four. It's always, be careful what you wish for."
The Ducks' difference-maker against the Kings this season has been the addition of Ryan Kesler. The Kings have always had a tough time with the top line and center Ryan Getzlaf, but Kesler has virtually shut down Anze Kopitar in the teams' meetings this season.
.@jameswisniewski: "There's no hiding the dislike. We're looking forward to puck drop and getting this thing started." #FreewayFaceoff
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) March 18, 2015
"I think Kesler coming in there has impacted how they play down the middle against us," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter. "Getzlaf's minutes aren't as heavy as they were, meaning it's three or four minutes less against us, and that's been an issue for us because Kesler's been very effective. I mean, you're still looking at it, you're in the fifth game of playing them, and you have some players you're still going to measure how they play against them, so that means that some of our guys haven't played very well against them.
.@Ryan_Kesler: "These two points are just as important for us [as it is for them]. We know how tight the race is for first." #FreewayFaceoff
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) March 18, 2015
The Kings skated at the Toyota Center Wednesday morning and it was optional. There were no real line rushes and although Jonathan Quick is expected to be in net for the Kings, he did not skate.
John Gibson, of Staples Center playoff infamy, will oppose Quick.
