"We know we're capable of this," said Adam Henrique, who scored twice on Friday and comes in with four goals in a season-high three straight games. "We're really playing well within our structure, and working. We're taking advantages of our opportunities. Everyone has bought in. It's made a huge difference for us."
Tonight's game against the Kings is a long time coming, mainly because they haven't seen each other in four months. This is the first game between these crosstown rivals since the series opener on Nov. 6 at Staples Center, a 4-1 Kings win. They'll get comfortable with one another over the next month, with additional games at both Staples Center (Saturday, March 23) and Honda Center (regular-season finale on Friday, April 5).
The Ducks have fared well against the Kings, going 17-5-4 in the last 26 regular-season meetings. Anaheim is 66-46-26 all-time against LA, including a 37-15-16 mark at Honda Center. The Ducks have earned points in six of the last seven head-to-head meetings (4-1-2) and have gone 5-2-2 in the last nine.
They'll be the rested club, as the Kings last night took on the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena, and lost, 4-2. As much as the Ducks have struggled this season, it's been even worse for the Kings. They've lost three in a row and 13 of their last 14 (1-9-4). They're in the mix with the Ottawa Senators for last place in the league and come in with an 11-19-5 record on the road. Despite all of this, the Kings are getting consistent production from their captain, Anze Kopitar, who leads them in goals and points. Kopitar scored his 300th career NHL goal on Jan. 5 vs. Edmonton to become the fifth King to reach that mark (Robitaille: 557, Dionne: 550, Taylor: 431 and Nicholls: 327).
