Ducks at Kings
THE STORY: The struggling Anaheim Ducks try to end their road misery when they begin a home-and-home series against the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center on Wednesday. Anaheim has lost five consecutive games away from home and seven of eight overall, scoring only 14 goals in that span. However, the Ducks have won three straight overall meetings with their Southern California rivals and three of four in Los Angeles. The Kings are also having their troubles, losing six of their last eight contests, but are 2-1-0 on their four-game homestand. Los Angeles could catch a break as Dan Ellis, who is 7-1-0 lifetime against the Kings, is battling a sore groin. Jonas Hiller and his 0-4-0 career mark in Los Angeles likely will be between the pipes for Anaheim instead.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN West
ABOUT THE DUCKS (6-8-3): Less than a week after claiming Ben Maxwell off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim plucked Niklas Hagman off the Calgary Flames' roster Monday. Hagman, who eclipsed the 20-goal mark three straight seasons beginning in 2007-08 with the Dallas Stars, notched one tally and three assists in eight contests with Calgary this campaign. Hagman cannot make his Ducks debut until he secures a work visa but is anxious to make a good first impression. "I need a little bit of a fresh start for my career," he said. "It’s a good place to come. I’ll do whatever they want me to do to help the team." Maxwell, meanwhile, is expected to practice with Anaheim for the first time on Wednesday.
ABOUT THE KINGS (8-6-3): Los Angeles will be without Alec Martinez and Dustin Penner, who were placed on injured reserve Monday and Sunday, respectively. Martinez, who has two goals in 16 games, appeared to injure his shoulder on a hit from Warren Peters in Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Penner, who has notched just two assists in 14 contests, hurt his hand in a loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Stud defensemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson are expected to be paired together in the wake of Martinez's injury while callup Slava Voynov likely will play with Willie Mitchell. Andrei Loktionov will make his season debut in place of Penner and skate on a line with captain Dustin Brown and Mike Richards.
OVERTIME:
1. The Ducks' 35 goals is the second-lowest total in the league. Only the New York Islanders (31) have fewer.
2. Los Angeles scored a total of three goals in its four losses to Anaheim last season.