The Kings won their game Saturday night against the Buffalo Sabres 2-0 with two goals from Tanner Pearson. Goaltender Jhonas Enroth made 23 saves and Rob Scuderi, who was traded to his old team from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday, played 19:07 and had an assist on the third defensive pairing with Brayden McNabb.
Scuderi played four seasons with Los Angeles from 2009-13 and was a member of the 2012 Stanley Cup-winning team. He's familiar with the rivalry and the challenges that the Ducks pose.
"I think have a big start," Scuderi said after the game Saturday. "Usually that's the best way to get yourself going, especially in a road rink, to take some of the air out of the building to have a good first five and ten minutes, it goes a long way I think."
Scuderi said he was able to slide back into the Kings' system easily.
"It felt pretty natural," Scuderi said. "Given the way that they play my style, I think it's a pretty good fit. I thought it was one good game, and the idea is to do it continually over the course of time."
The Pacific Division-leading Kings bring their own streak into the game, having won their past four games and having earned points in the past five (4-0-1). A total of four points separate the two in the division.
"Now is the first time it actually takes on a little bit more meaning in the standings," Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said after practice Saturday. "It should ramp things up a bit. Both teams will be at their best. It should be a great game."
The Kings did not skate on Sunday morning. The Ducks held an optional morning skate.
Here are the projected lineups:
KINGS
Milan Lucic - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown
Dwight King - Jeff Carter - Tyler Toffoli
Tanner Pearson - Vincent Lecavalier - Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford - Nicholas Shore - Andy Andreoff
Jake Muzzin - Drew Doughty
Alec Martinez - Luke Schenn
Brayden McNabb - Rob Scuderi
Jonathan Quick
Jhonas Enroth
Injured: Matt Greene (shoulder), Marian Gaborik (Knee), Jordan Nolan (undisclosed)
Scratched: Jamie McBain, Michael Mersch
DUCKS
David Perron - Ryan Getzlaf - Mike Santorelli
Nick Ritchie - Rickard Rakell - Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano - Ryan Kesler - Jakob Silfverberg
Pat Maroon - Nate Thompson - Ryan Garbutt
Cam Fowler - Kevin Bieksa
Hampus Lindholm - Josh Manson
Simon Despres - Sami Vatanen
John Gibson
Frederik Andersen
Injured: Chris Stewart (jaw)
Scratched: Korbinian Holzer, Harry Zolnierczyk, Clayton Stoner
Status Report: Boudreau named Gibson the starter after practice Saturday. Gibson is 3-1-0 against the Kings in the regular season with a 2.25 GAA and a .914 save percentage. He also has one postseason shutout against Los Angeles. … Quick is 15-8-6 against Anaheim in the regular season with a 2.53 GAA and a .905 save percentage.
Who's Hot: Getzlaf is riding a 10-game point streak, the longest active streak in the NHL. He has 48 points in 57 gains against the Kings. … Rakell has six points in the past six games. … Kesler has seven points in the past nine games and 23 points in 37 games against the Kings. … Pearson has four points in the past four games, including two goals on Saturday.… Kopitar has 56 points in 52 games against Anaheim with a plus-12 rating.
