The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings put on a show for the ages Friday night at the Honda Center, delivering a dramatic, back-and-forth contest that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final shot. In the first of four much-anticipated Freeway Face-off clashes this NHL season, the Ducks stormed back late and ultimately edged the Kings 5-4 in a shootout, capping their six-game homestand with a flourish and sending a jolt through the Southern California hockey scene.
It was a night brimming with storylines, but none shone brighter than that of Leo Carlsson. The Ducks’ young forward was electric, notching a goal and two assists—including the game-tying tally with just 1:31 left in regulation. "Carlsson tied it with 1:32 to go on a one-timer from Jackson LaCombe with Husso pulled for an extra attacker," reported the Associated Press, highlighting the clutch nature of his performance. The rookie’s poise under pressure was palpable, as he crashed the net and buried the puck from the doorstep, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and forcing overtime.
The Ducks’ resilience was on full display throughout the third period. Trailing 4-2 after a pair of quick strikes by the Kings—Alex Turcotte’s first goal of the season at 3:23 and Joel Edmundson’s point shot at 6:53, which benefited from a slick screen and a deft deflection by former Duck Corey Perry—Anaheim refused to fold. Pavel Mintyukov halved the deficit at the 9:18 mark, pulling the puck out of his skates and firing a wrist shot past Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper. The Ducks kept pressing, and Carlsson’s late equalizer set the stage for a nail-biting conclusion.
“We just kept believing,” Ducks forward Mason McTavish said after the game, according to WRAL. “Everyone on the bench knew we could come back, and Leo’s goal gave us the spark we needed.” McTavish, who contributed two assists on the night, would go on to play a pivotal role in the shootout as well.
The shootout itself was a showcase of skill and nerves, with Troy Terry and McTavish both converting their attempts for Anaheim. Terry coolly tucked the puck between Kuemper’s pads, while McTavish followed with a confident finish. On the other end, Ville Husso—making his first NHL appearance of the season after being recalled from the San Diego Gulls just two days prior—stood tall. He denied both Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe, sealing the win for the Ducks and capping a 23-save performance that was nothing short of impressive given the circumstances.
"Husso was perfect in the shootout and finished with 23 saves in his first NHL game this season," Field Level Media reported. The Finnish netminder’s arrival was necessitated by an unfortunate injury to regular starter Lukas Dostal, who the Ducks announced will miss two to three weeks with an upper-body ailment. Husso’s poise under the bright lights provided a much-needed boost for Anaheim, whose goaltending situation had suddenly become precarious.
The scoring opened late in the first period, with Kings winger Alex Laferriere pouncing on a loose puck in front and jamming it between Husso’s pads at 17:48. The Ducks responded nine minutes into the second, as Chris Kreider capitalized on a power play by redirecting Troy Terry’s centering feed past Kuemper. The see-saw battle continued just over a minute later, when Kevin Fiala wired a shot from the left circle that caromed off the crossbar and in, restoring the Kings’ lead. But Anaheim would answer right back, with defenseman Olen Zellweger converting from close range less than a minute after Fiala’s tally, knotting the score at two apiece.
The third period saw the Kings seize momentum, as Turcotte—who had been a healthy scratch the previous game—finished off a slick saucer pass from defenseman Brandt Clarke to put Los Angeles ahead 3-2 early. Edmundson’s goal, aided by Perry’s presence in front, doubled the Kings’ lead and seemed to put the visitors firmly in control. Yet the Ducks refused to go quietly, with Mintyukov’s and Carlsson’s goals setting up the dramatic finish.
For the Kings, the defeat was a tough pill to swallow. It marked their fourth loss in five games (1-1-3), and the sting was compounded by the fact that they let a two-goal lead slip away in the final ten minutes. Kuemper, who stopped 27 shots, did his best to keep Los Angeles in front, but the Ducks’ late onslaught proved too much. The Kings were also without forward Warren Foegele, sidelined day-to-day with an upper-body injury sustained in practice the day before.
“We had our chances to close it out, but credit to Anaheim—they kept coming and found a way,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said postgame. The loss means Los Angeles drops the opening game of the Freeway Face-off, a rivalry series that’s always circled on the calendar for both teams and their passionate fanbases.
On the Ducks’ side, the victory capped a successful homestand, as they finished 4-2-0 over the six-game stretch. The team’s depth was on display, with contributions up and down the lineup: Kreider, Zellweger, and Mintyukov each found the back of the net, while Carlsson and McTavish piled up points. The chemistry between the young core and veterans like Terry was evident, and Husso’s steady presence in goal provided a calming influence during the tense shootout.
The game also featured a bit of drama involving Corey Perry, who spent his first 14 seasons with Anaheim and has since become a lightning rod for Kings fans due to his aggressive play in past playoff series. Perry’s screen on Edmundson’s goal drew the ire of the crowd, but also served as a reminder of his knack for making an impact in big moments—even if it’s now for the other side.
Looking ahead, both teams have little time to dwell on the outcome. The Kings are set to host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, while the Ducks hit the road to face the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. With three more Freeway Face-off games still on the docket this season, the rivalry is just heating up—and if Friday’s thriller was any indication, fans are in for a treat.
As the Ducks celebrated a hard-fought win and the Kings regrouped, one thing was clear: Southern California hockey is alive and well, brimming with youthful talent, fierce competition, and no shortage of late-game drama. The next chapter in this storied rivalry can’t come soon enough.
