Kings 2, Ducks 1
LOS ANGELES -- In a showdown between the co-leaders of the Pacific Division, the Los Angeles Kings used a second-half flurry to floor the Anaheim Ducks.
Kris Versteeg scored the go-ahead goal in the opening minutes of the second, and the Kings took sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division again with a 2-1 victory over the Ducks in a feisty affair before a sellout crowd of 18,511 on Thursday night at Staples Center.
Goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 19 of 2 shots as the Kings (48-28-5) ended a three-game skid to the Ducks. Quick also set a new career high in wins in a season with 40.
The win allowed the Kings to grab a two-point advantage heading into the final weekend of regular-season play. Coupled with San Jose's loss, Los Angeles clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs and will win the division Saturday with a win vs. the Winnipeg Jets.
Goalie John Gibson recorded 27 saves for the Ducks (44-25-11).
The Ducks had captured 11 of the past 14 regular-season matches between the two clubs, dropping only the initial clash 3-2 on Jan. 17 in Anaheim. However, they claimed the season series 3-2.
Ryan Kesler put the Ducks on the board, converting a pass from Jakob Silfverberg and smoking a wrist shot past Quick with 3:49 left in the first period for a 1-0 lead. It was Kesler's 21st goal of the season.
The Kings grabbed the lead with a pair of goals early in the second period. Milan Lucic tied the score 28 seconds after intermission, gathering a loose puck and slipping it by Gibson for his 20th goal of the season.
Versteeg followed with his 15th goal at 2:01 of the period for a 2-1 Los Angeles edge. Versteeg corralled a rebound near the net and cashed it in after a shot by Brayden McNabb went astray.
NOTES: D Drew Doughty passed Jay Wells for fourth overall in games played by Kings defensemen with 605. ... D Kevin Bieksa, C Brandon Pirri, D Sami Vatanen LW David Perron, RW Richard Rakell and G Frederik Andersen were scratched by the Ducks. C Nick Shore, D Alec Martinez, D Kevin Gravel and C Nic Dowd were unavailable for the Kings. ... Anaheim led the all-time series 60-42-24 entering the contest, but were 26-27-9 in Los Angeles. ... The Ducks complete their regular season with two road contests, beginning Saturday at the Colorado Avalanche. They visit the Washington Capitals on Sunday in a game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 22, but postponed because of a snowstorm. ... The Kings close out the regular season Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets at Staples Center.