Anaheim Ducks – Los Angeles Kings Preview, Pick, Scores, Results

This is the first time the Kings and Ducks have met in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, but there are no secrets between these two teams.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Odds: Los Angeles Kings -120, Anaheim Ducks +100

Los Angeles Kings:

The Los Angeles Kings completed a historic comeback against the San Jose Sharks, rallying from three games down to take the series. Now we’ll see if they have anything left in the tank. Los Angeles held the Sharks to just two goals over the final three games of the first round. The Kings are a fantastic puck-possession team with an excellent defence and tremendous goaltending, so they aren’t going away anytime soon. Anaheim won the last four meetings between the two teams, three of which were in Los Angeles. That said, while this may be the first time the Kings meet the Ducks in the playoffs, but you can throw a lot of the stats out the window with this rivalry.

Sports Interaction’s NHL Stanley Cup playoffs odds

SERIES PREVIEWS & PICKS:

Boston Bruins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild

Anaheim Ducks:

Anaheim is going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Jonathan Quick. The Ducks score 20 goals through six games against the Stars and Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are cruising with seven points apiece. Anaheim’s power play is clicking at almost a 27 percent clip and held Dallas to an average of fewer than 30 shots per game. The Ducks will need to play well in their own end considering their goaltending situation. Frederik Andersen looked off his game in the first round after his late-season injury and was yanked in favor of veteran Jonas Hiller in Game 6. The move worked out as Hiller shut the door and helped Anaheim finish off the Stars. Now coach Bruce Boudreau has to decide who to start in Game 1, but no matter who gets the call, Anaheim’s goaltending needs to be much better than in Round 1.

Key factor:

Anaheim’s goaltending. If Hiller or Andersen gets hot, the Ducks have a good chance to get past the Kings. These teams know each other so well that there won’t be many surprises. If Anaheim doesn’t implode in its own end, this one might go down to the wire.

Prediction:

I’m really worried that the Kings will go through a first-round hangover. That series against the Sharks was a battle and to come back from a 3-0 deficit takes a lot out of a team. Plus, don’t discount home-ice advantage in this series. Anaheim suffered just eight regulation losses at home during the regular season.

Pick: Anaheim wins in seven games

Results:

Game 1: