• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Kings look to take second straight from Ducks

Sep 30, 2007 - 3:00 PM Los Angeles (1-0-0) at Anaheim (0-1-0) 12:00 pm EDT

LONDON (Ticker) - The Anaheim Ducks' defense of their Stanley Cup title got off to a shaky start.

The Ducks will look to bounce back when they meet the Los Angeles Kings at the O2 Arena in London in the conclusion of the NHL's first regular-season venture to Europe.

Rookie Jonathan Bernier made 26 saves and Michael Cammalleri scored a pair of goals as the Kings opened the 90th NHL season with a 4-1 triumph over the Ducks on Saturday.

The 11th overall selection in the 2006 draft, Bernier impressed Kings coach Marc Crawford enough during training camp to earn the start in the team's season opener. The 19-year-old Quebec native did not disappoint in his first NHL appearance, stopping the first 25 shots he faced before Bobby Ryan spoiled the shutout bid with just under seven minutes to go in the third period.

Despite Bernier's successful debut, Jason LaBarbera will likely be in the crease for the Ducks on Sunday.

Much like in the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, Anaheim had discipline problems, collecting eight penalties over the first 41 minutes of the game. Los Angeles took full advantage, scoring three power-play goals to take control.

Rob Blake, who was named the team captain, and the newly-acquired Michal Handzus also added goals for the Kings, who are looking for their fifth straight win over their Pacific Division foes.

The Ducks were without many of their stars in Saturday's contest. Both Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne are not playing while they contemplate possibly retiring and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, center Sami Pahlsson and defenseman Mathieu Schneider all sat out with injuries.

Giguere, who had surgery to repair his injured sports hernia, could return as early as next week. His replacement, Ilya Bryzgalov, made 17 saves Saturday.