Kings 3, Ducks 2 (SO)
Captain Dustin Brown scored in regulation and netted the decisive goal in the shootout as the Los Angeles Kings made Darryl Sutter's debut behind the bench a successful one with a 3-2 home triumph over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
Mike Richards scored in his return from a head injury, defenseman Drew Doughty notched two assists and Jonathan Quick made 20 saves for Los Angeles, which halted a three-game home losing streak a day after naming Sutter its new coach.
After each team scored in the first round of the shootout, neither cashed in on their second attempt. Brown beat Jonas Hiller low to the glove side on the Kings' third opportunity, and Quick denied Kyle Palmieri to clinch the win.
Niklas Hagman and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky each had a goal and an assist while Hiller stopped 32 shots for the Ducks, whose franchise-record road losing streak reached 13 games.
Following a scoreless first period, Hagman gave Anaheim the lead with six minutes left in the second when he redirected Visnovsky's slap shot from the blue line past Quick. Richards forged a tie less than three minutes later on a deflection of Doughty's blast from the left point.
Brown put Los Angeles ahead eight minutes into the third with a one-timer from above the slot, but Visnovsky knotted the contest with 3:11 remaining on a rising slapper.