Ducks at Kings
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Kings made arguably the boldest move prior the NHL trade deadline when they acquired center Jeff Carter from Columbus. Carter will make his home debut when the Kings host the even more desperate Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. Carter didn’t register a point in his first two games as a King, but will have to start scoring soon if Los Angeles is to make the playoffs. The Ducks defeated Calgary in dramatic fashion 3-2 on Friday.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS West
ABOUT THE DUCKS (28-27-10): If Anaheim somehow completes its improbable rally and reaches the playoffs, it will look back at Friday’s game as a big reason. Ryan Getzlaf scored his first goal in 18 games with 46 seconds left to keep the Ducks seven points behind San Jose and Dallas, who are tied for seventh. Anaheim was 20 points out of the playoffs on Jan. 6. Corey Perry snapped a three-game goalless streak with his 31st of the season and Jonas Hiller made his franchise-record 24th straight start Friday. He is 15-5-4 during that span. The Ducks are 5-4-0 in the second of back-to-back games this season. Anaheim plays nine of its last 17 games on the road.
ABOUT THE KINGS (29-23-12): Los Angeles is three points out of playoff position. The Kings are last in the NHL at 2.09 goals scored per game, a key factor in obtaining Carter for talented defenseman Jack Johnson and a first-round pick. Carter averaged 28 goals in his last four seasons in Philadelphia, but had only 14 in 54 games with Columbus this season prior to the trade. Jonathan Quick has done his best to keep Los Angeles in the race with a 1.92 goals-against average and .932 save percentage, both third among goaltenders who have played at least 10 games. The Kings begin a four-game road trip Tuesday in Nashville, where they lost 2-1 on Monday.
OVERTIME:
1. The Kings have won three of four meetings this season, including 3-2 in a shootout in the last encounter Dec. 22.
2. The under is 6-0 in the last six meetings in Los Angeles.