Final - 2OT
Ducks clinch top seed in West
Apr 13, 2014 - 6:22 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Anaheim locked up the top seed in the Western Conference by getting to overtime, and Devante Smith-Pelly scored the lone shootout goal in the Ducks' 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.A regulation loss by the Ducks would have set up a winner-take-all showdown for the West's top seed Sunday in Anaheim against the Colorado Avalanche.
"They all knew that they just needed a point," said Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau. "We never talked about it, but you could tell after the game was over that they all knew because they all turned and some of them were high- fiving each other. It's a pretty good accomplishment for them. Then we said well let's go win it in the shootout."
The Ducks, who won their third straight game, will face Dallas in the first round of the playoffs.
Anze Kopitar had two goals in the Kings' regular-season finale. Los Angeles (46-28-8) will begin the playoffs on the road against San Jose.
"Now we have a couple of days off to try to recharge and get ready for whenever we are going to start," Kopitar said.
A wraparound goal by Kopitar 48 seconds into the third period tied it at 2-2, and the Kings failed to grab the lead on a two-man advantage that lasted 45 seconds.
Matt Beleskey then gave Anaheim a 3-2 lead after Smith-Pelly's forecheck created a neutral-zone turnover.
Kopitar tied the game 1:35 later, making a nice move to get around Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf and beating Frederik Andersen with 3:12 remaining.
Dustin Brown fired a shot through the five-hole of Andersen to give Los Angeles a 1-0 lead at 4:43 of the first period.
The Ducks responded less than two minutes later. Nick Bonino was on his knees and beat Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick with a backhander while falling down.
Anaheim moved ahead at 2:33 of the second period when Hampus Lindholm's shot deflected in off Smith-Pelly's skate as he battled in the crease with Kings forward Mike Richards.
Game Notes
Andersen made 27 saves ... Quick stopped 21 shots ... Both teams were 0-for-4 on the power play.
- ANAHEIM: 4
LOS ANGELES: 3
Final - 2OT
Apr 13 1:23 AM - ANAHEIM: 3
LOS ANGELES: 3
End of OT
Apr 13 1:11 AM - ANAHEIM: 3
LOS ANGELES: 3
End of Regulation
Apr 13 1:01 AM - ANAHEIM: 2
LOS ANGELES: 1
End of 2nd
Apr 13 12:08 AM - Los Angeles Goal - Dustin Brown (15), from Willie Mitchell at 4:43.
Ducks 0, Kings 1 1st - 15:17Apr 12 10:48 PM - ANAHEIM: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
1st Period - 17:51
Apr 12 10:44 PM
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