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Anaheim, Anaheim Ducks, Ducks, Fly Together, Freeway Faceoff, Go Kings Go, hockey, Honda Center, Kings, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Kings, National Hockey League, NHL, Orange County, pro hockey, Stanley Cup, Staples Center
TOUCHING BASE WITH SO CAL’S TWO NHL TEAMS
ANAHEIM DUCKS
29th Season
Record: 14-8-5, 33 points, second place in the NHL’s Pacific Division
Top Players:
- Troy Terry, C – 15 goals, 11 assists = 26 points
- Trevor Zegras, C – 6 goals, 16 assists = 22 points
- Sonny Milano, LW – 8 goals, 12 assists = 20 points
- Ryan Getzlaf, C – 1 goal, 19 assists = 20 points
- John Gibson, G: 10-6, .914 save percentage, 2.69 GAA
Last Game: Beat the Buffalo Sabres, 2-0, on December 7th
Next Game: at Columbus Blue Jackets on December 9th
LOS ANGELES KINGS
55th Season
Record: 10-10-4, 24 points, sixth place in the NHL’s Pacific Division
Top Players:
- Anze Kopitar, C – 8 goals, 16 assists = 24 points
- Alex Iafallo, C – 9 goals, 7 assists = 16 points
- Adrian Kempe, LW – 10 goals, 5 assists = 15 points
- Drew Doughty, D – 2 goals, 9 assists = 11 points
- Jonathan Quick, G: 5-5, .926 save percentage, 2.27 GAA
Last Game: Lost to the Vancouver Canucks, 4-0, on December 6th
Next Game: vs the Dallas Stars at Staples Center on December 9th
FREEWAY FACEOFF:
- Ducks beat Kings in an overtime shootout, 5-4, at Staples Center on November 30th
Upcoming Freeway Faceoff Games:
- February 25th at Honda Center
- April 19th at Honda Center
- April 23rd at Staples Center (to be Crypto.com Arena on December 25th)
Comments and Thoughts :
Even though I have admittedly paid little attention to these National Hockey League teams that call the greater Los Angeles area home because of other priorities on this blog,
From looking at the standings it seems that the Ducks are doing a lot better than expected as they are right in the thick of things in their division and the Western Conference at the moment;
The fact that I had never heard of anyone on the top players list above on this post save for Getzlaf tells me that their young guys are coming through, at least to this point.
If they not only make the playoffs, but go far and reach the Stanley Cup Finals, I’ll be more than happy to given them space here.
The same goes for the Ducks’ rivals located thirty miles north on I-5 in downtown L.A.,
Although those black and silver-clad Kings aren’t doing so hot, playing .500 hockey and mired deep in the division standings;
Just like many if not most pundits had that team at the beginning of the campaign as like the Ducks, they are relying on young players and are essentially rebuilding.
At least those Kings will always have those Lord Stanley’s Cups that they won in 2012 and 2014.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a full decade since they hoisted what is accepted to be the best trophy in all of sports.
To be honest,
There’s not much else to say about these two SoCal NHL clubs.
Unless they do something spectacular during the remaining months of the season.
Or reach the Finals, of course.
And I’ll certainly post highlights of their Freeway Faceoff clashes on this blog’s Twitter and Facebook pages.
SoCal Sports Chronicles 