Recap: Kase's Three-Point Night Fuels Ducks to 4-2 Victory Over LA

LOS ANGELES -- Coming off the bye week with something to prove, the Ducks delivered a gutsy performance on Saturday night - and it happened to come against one of their longest-standing rivals. In a game that featured three consecutive fights within the first 2:30 of the game, the Ducks came away with a 4-2 victory over the LA Kings at STAPLES Center.

It was a game the Ducks desperately needed for several reasons. Not only was it against a divisional opponent - one that currently sits above them in the standings - but the Ducks currently sit on the outside looking in. They entered the game three points out of a playoff spot and had nearly a week to stew over a loss in Calgary that saw them give up the go-ahead goal with just 16 seconds left in regulation.
"Any time you can come off a break, come energized and play the first period we did, I thought guys went out and stuck up for each other right away," said captain Ryan Getzlaf, who earned an assist in 22:50 TOI. "That set the tone for the whole night. These guys have been playing great hockey. They're a measuring stick for our group. We have to be able to win these games."
Ondrej Kase scored twice as part of his first career three-point game (2g/1a), while Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry also found the back of the net for the Ducks, who improved to 20-15-9 (49 points) and have earned standings points in five of the last six games (4-1-1, nine points) and seven of their last nine (6-2-1, 13 points). This marked the conclusion of a stretch of seven consecutive games against Pacific Division opponents that saw the Ducks go 4-2-1.
John Gibson made 23 saves in the victory for the Ducks, who improved to 15-4-4 in the last 23 regular-season games vs. LA and 64-45-26 all time.
"It's a great feeling," Kase said, on the win. "We had a great start. It's perfect to get two points."
Nick Shore and Anze Kopitar scored for the Kings (24-14-5, 53 points), who have lost three consecutive games - all in regulation. Jonathan Quick made 18 saves in the loss.
The physical battle got off to a bruising start right off the bat. The first fight of the night came just 2:29 into the game when Jared Boll and Kurtis MacDermid squared off at center ice. Boll, recalled yesterday from San Diego of the American Hockey League, gave up two inches and 27 pounds to MacDermid, but both players were able to land several punches before the officials intervened.
On the next faceoff, Kevin Bieksa and Andy Andreoff squared off in a rematch from the last time these teams squared off in this building - a fight that featured Bieksa's patented superman punch. Although Bieksa didn't land one this time, both he and Andreoff were able to trade clean shots before the lengthy bout came to a close.
Perhaps inspired by the two previous fights, the next draw featured a one-sided scrap between Nick Ritchie and Kyle Clifford. After both players traded jabs, Ritchie dropped Clifford to the ice in a short-lived fight that silenced the crowd.
"That's good hockey right there," Getzlaf said, on the three fights within a four-second span. "I've seen that a few times. Those were guys who wanted to make a statement coming out of the break and sticking up for each other for past things. It was good to see on both sides."
Shortly after killing off Andrew Cogliano's interference penalty, the Ducks opened the scoring at the 6:14 mark of the first period when Kase finished an impressive rush up the ice with a severe-angle shot that somehow snuck through the five-hole. The goal was Kase's 10th and his career-best 16th point of the season, eclipsing his previous high of 15 set last year in 53 games as a rookie.

The Ducks made it 2-0 at the 18:50 mark of the opening frame when Kesler sent a blistering wrist shot over Quick's shoulder from the top of the right faceoff dot. It marked Kesler's second goal of the season and the team's first power-play tally against the Kings this season (1-for-8).

LA thought it cut the deficit in half early in the second period, but video replay showed Alex Iafallo pushing a loose puck across the stripe with his glove. The goal was reviewed briefly before the official announcement was made.
Kase made it 3-0 just 2:10 into the third period when he buried a shot from the high slot into a wide open net. The play started with a persistent forecheck from Ritchie, who forced a turnover from Quick behind the net. After stripping the puck from the Kings netminder, Ritchie sent a pass into the high slot to Kase, who made no mistake with his shot. It marked the first career three-point game for Kase, who ranks tied for second on the team in goals.

The Kings got on the board with 11:28 remaining in regulation when Shore chipped a shot over Gibson's shoulder to make it 3-1. It marked Shore's third goal and 12th point in 40 games this season.
LA cut the deficit to one when Kopitar buried a rebound for his 18th goal of the season at the 13:46 mark of the third period. His goal placed him in a tie with Tyler Toffoli for the team lead.
With the Kings pressuring deep in the Ducks' zone and the extra attacker on the ice, Perry sent the puck the length of the ice and into the empty net to give the Ducks a crucial insurance marker with 1:28 remaining on the clock.

"These games have all been very tight," said Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle, on the season series against the Kings. "We haven't been on the right end of the stick. We lost one in a shootout and one in overtime. We need points, simple as that. Every game is very important against division foes and Western Conference foes. These are four-point games. We're going to have to play a more consistent brand as we go forward. Hopefully we can do enough to give ourselves a chance."
The Ducks will face the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center on Monday afternoon (noon PT) before opening a five-game homestand beginning Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.