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Lias Andersson and
Anze Kopitar scored in the final 5:04 on Friday as the Los
Angeles Kings rallied for a 2-1 victory over the host Anaheim
Ducks.
Kopitar's game-winner came with 56 seconds remaining for his
997th career point, all with the Kings over 15 seasons.
Haydn Fleury scored less than six minutes into the game for the
Ducks, who relied on youth and nearly pulled off the victory
while leading for much of the game.
Without much to show for their effort, the Kings were able to
tie the game at 14:56 of the final period on Andersson's third
of the season, off a backward between-the-legs pass from Gabriel
Vilardi.
The Kings kept up the pressure until Kopitar found a loose puck
in front of the Ducks goal and left his feet to score past
Anaheim goaltender John Gibson.
The Ducks played without captain Ryan Getzlaf, who was a healthy
scratch for rest, and veteran Adam Henrique, who remains in
COVID-19 protocol.
Instead, Anaheim leaned on youth like 20-year-old Trevor Zegras,
who was playing in just his 19th career game and just his second
at center following his return from the AHL. He had an assist on
Fleury's early goal, just his eighth career point. The Ducks
also turned to 21-year-old center Isac Lundestrom and
23-year-old center Sam Steel.
The Kings are also blending in youth with 18-year-old Quinton
Byfield playing in his second career game. Byfield played 17
minutes Friday after he played 18 in his debut Wednesday when
the Kings fell 3-2 to the Ducks.
Gibson made 23 saves but will be an observer when the teams play
their season-series finale Saturday. The Ducks have announced
that retiring veteran Ryan Miller will be in net for Anaheim's
final home game of the season.
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick had 33 saves.
While the Ducks already have been eliminated from playoff
consideration, the Kings remain alive but are fading fast. Los
Angeles remains eight points behind the fourth-place St. Louis
Blues with eight games remaining.
The Kings improved to 4-2-1 against the Ducks this season and
2-1-0 in a four-game home-and-home series between the rivals
that concludes Saturday.
--Field Level Media
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