LAK@ANA: Gibson denies Carter from doorstep

ANAHEIM --John Gibson made 44 saves, and the Anaheim Ducks ended their season with a 5-2 win against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center on Friday.

Five different players scored for the Ducks (35-37-10), who finished the season on a three-game winning streak and went 5-1-1 in their final seven games. Anaheim avoided its first season series sweep to Los Angeles since entering the NHL in 1993-94.
"Looking at the big picture, we wanted to make sure we were playing the right way and playing our systems and playing as a team," Gibson said.
WATCH: [All Kings vs. Ducks highlights]
Michael Amadio and Carl Grundstrom scored, and Jack Campbell made 28 saves for the Kings (30-42-9).
"Regardless of wherever everyone is in the standings, you know it's always going to be an emotional battle," Kings defenseman Alec Martinez said. "It's always going to be a revved-up environment. That's what it was tonight."

LAK@ANA: Holzer pots Jones' perfect feed

Korbinian Holzer scored his first goal since April 2, 2017, to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead at 10:38 of the second period. He converted on a one-timer at the right post after taking a backhand pass from Max Jones, who had two assists for his first multipoint game in the NHL.
"It's huge. Got that donut off the stat sheet," Holzer said. "I scored a couple down in San Diego (of the American Hockey League), so I didn't forget how to do it. ... Nice play by Jones, not even I miss one of those."
Daniel Sprong made it 3-1 at 16:42, taking a drop pass from Devin Shore and scoring on a one-timer.
After Ducks forward Nick Ritchie received two minor penalties at 4:55 of the third period, Gibson made four saves on the penalty kill before Sam Steel scored shorthanded off a pass from Jakob Silfverberg to make it 4-1 at 8:34.
Kyle Clifford appeared to score for Los Angeles at 12:48, but Ducks coach Bob Murray challenged the play for offside, and the call was reversed after a video review.
Grundstrom cut it to 4-2 with 5:03 left, taking the puck following a turnover by Ducks defenseman Jacob Larsson and driving to the net where Cam Fowler swept the puck into his own net.
Silfverberg scored into an empty net with 1:12 left to make it 5-2. The goal was his 24th of the season, an NHL career high.
Amadio scored off a rebound to give the Kings a 1-0 lead at 11:51 of the first period.
"I think I am just playing a little more loose," Amadio said. "Just trying to go out there and do what I can and make plays with the puck."
Carter Rowney tied it 1-1 at 14:02 off a backhand pass through traffic from Jones. Kings coach Willie Desjardins challenged the play for goaltender interference, but the call was upheld after a video review.
"It's very unfortunate that we're not playing those extra games, the ones that are very meaningful, but there's a lot to build on this season," Rowney said. "It was nice to get my feet wet with this organization and go into the summer with something to build on."

LAK@ANA: Silfverberg dangles, feeds Steel for SHG

They said it

"I thought the first period was good. I thought they got a little bit of momentum in the second, but it wasn't that they outplayed us, the game was pretty even." -- Kings coach Willie Desjardins
"It's going to be a long summer, but I think next year when we come back, we'll know the feeling of not being in the playoffs and I think everybody will come back next year motivated and ready to go." -- Ducks goalie John Gibson

Need to know

The Kings need a point against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday to avoid finishing with fewer than 70 points in an 82-game season for the first time since 2006-07, when they finished with 68 points. ... The Ducks avoided finishing with fewer than 80 points in an 82-game season for the first since 2003-04 (76 points). ... Ducks defenseman Brendan Guhle returned after missing 14 games because of an oblique injury but left in the second period with an upper-body injury. … Silfverberg had 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in the final 17 games. ... Steel had eight points (five goals, three assists) in the last seven games.

What's next

Kings:Host the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV)
Ducks:Season has ended

Ducks conclude season with 5-2 win against Kings