The Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty celebrates with teammates after their 4-3 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Ondrej Kase battles for the puck with the Los Angeles Kings’ Tanner Pearson during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Sami Vatanen, center, celebrates a goal as the Los Angeles Kings’ Tanner Pearson skates past during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Francois Beauchemin checks the Los Angeles Kings’ Tyler Toffoli during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Derek Grant leaps past the Los Angeles Kings’ Oscar Fantenberg during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano celebrates with Jared Boll after Boll’s goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano skates down the ice against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano, left, celebrates with teammates after Jared Boll’s goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano, left, celebrates with teammates behind Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick after Jared Boll’s goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Ondrej Kase tries to get up from the ice after a hard hit against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Sami Vatanen shoots and scores against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick skates away from the scrum after getting a roughing penalty during the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano prepares for a face-off against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Hampus Lindholm shows his frustration with an icing call during the second period against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Chris Wagner battles with the Los Angeles Kings’ Andy Andreoff during a second period face-off at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Chris Wagner battles with the Los Angeles Kings’ Andy Andreoff during a second period face-off at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson makes a save in front of the Los Angeles Kings’ Brooks Laich during the second period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Josh Manson has words with the Kings’ bench during the second period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Josh Manson battles with the Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Iafallo during the second period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Hampus Lindholm, right, checks the Los Angeles Kings’ Trevor Lewis during the second period at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar is up-ended by the Anaheim Ducks’ Brandon Montour during the Kings’ 4-3 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Kings’ goaltender Jonathan Quick sprays his face with water during their 4-3 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Kings’ Dustin Brown with Nick Shore, left, after Shore’s overtime goal to give the Kings a 4-3 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Los Angeles Kings’ Dustin Brown celebrates Nick Shore’s overtime game-winner during their 4-3 overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender Ryan Miller pounces on the puck during the Ducks’ 4-3 overtime loss at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Anaheim Ducks’ Andrew Cogliano pressures the Los Angeles Kings’ Jake Muzzin as he skates with the puck during the third period of the Ducks’ 4-3 overtime loss at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson skates to the bench after being injured during the third period of the Ducks’ 4-3 overtime loss at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson loses his helmet as a goal is waived off during the third period of the Ducks’ 4-3 overtime loss at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Kings’ goaltender Jonathan Quick makes a save against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of their 4-3 overtime victory at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, and Anaheim Ducks left wing Nick Ritchie reach for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson stops a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Lewis, left, and Anaheim Ducks center Chris Wagner collide during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson has his helmet knocked off by the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 4-3 in overtime. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Anaheim Ducks goalie Ryan Miller is scored on by Los Angeles Kings center Nick Shore in overtime during an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 4-3. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick talks to an official during the second period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
ANAHEIM — The Kings thought they had taken the lead in the third period. They felt that way again a few minutes later. And then they were sure this wild, wacky edition of the Freeway Faceoff with the Ducks was won in overtime.
Nick Shore fired in a one-time shot past goalie Ryan Miller on an odd-man rush in overtime and the Kings maintained their winning ways with a 4-3 comeback victory over the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center.
Jared Boll, Sami Vatanen and Rickard Rakell scored goals for the Ducks (6-6-3), who squandered two separate two-goal leads. Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe and Dustin Brown scored in regulation for the Kings (11-2-2), who have avoided back-to-back losses during their strong start over the season’s first few weeks.
It was Brown who set up Shore for the decisive shot. And it was the 33-year-old winger who pulled the Kings into a 3-3 tie at 5:49 of the third with a power-play redirect past Ducks goalie John Gibson, who started the wild and entertaining contest.
“There’s really no quit in here,” Kopitar said. “Definitely not feeling sorry for ourselves. We get down two goals early, but it seemed like there was sense of calmness on the bench. Nobody panicked. Nobody was running around like a maniac.
“We just kept our cool. Kept our composure and just kind of started plugging away. We got a couple late goals in periods just to keep us in there. And then the third period, we took over.”
Before Shore ended it at 3:51 of the extra period, the Kings thought they had finally grabbed the lead. Twice.
Brown thought he had his second goal in a matter of minutes as he ripped a shot past Gibson off a great setup from Drew Doughty. But the Ducks caught Doughty creeping over the Anaheim blue line as the Kings entered the zone and immediately called for a challenge that the defenseman was offside.
The challenged proved successful. The Ducks survived their next close call when Brooks Laich had seemed to put in a rebound to snap the tie.
Gibson’s helmet had popped off on the initial shot and seemed to get clipped by a wayward stick, nullifying the potential score. And the goalie then was called into concussion protocol, with Miller suddenly summoned into action and coming in cold.
The Kings ended up with back-to-back advantages courtesy of penalties by Ducks defenders Kevin Bieksa and Josh Manson to end regulation but couldn’t put them away – until Shore beat Miller after the backup had stoned Tyler Toffoli with a terrific kick save right before overtime.
“We all have to be ready to contribute and that’s kind of the mindset I was trying to take,” Miller said. “Kind of the mindset I put myself in for any time I back up. If you get in there, you got to represent the guys and do the best you can.
“Happy to get a point. A little frustrated to not get that extra one because I thought we played a really strong game early. Would have been nice to cap it off.”
Addressing the latest of his team’s never-ending spell of injuries with the news of Ryan Getzlaf being out for possibly two months, Ducks general manager Bob Murray expressed some satisfaction with his team’s record under the circumstances.
Beyond the record is a different story. Murray is irritated with the high number of scoring chances the Ducks allow. Perhaps more important, it’s the absence of emotion that’s got him bothered.
“We’re hanging in there,” Murray said, talking in the concourse of his home arena. “It’s more about how we’re playing. We can improve how we are playing with this lineup. If everybody buys in and we get some contributions from a few more people, we can do a little bit better in my opinion.
“We’ve had some games where there’s been no emotion, which that shouldn’t happen right now. That shouldn’t happen this early in the year, especially with being banged up. There should not be a lack of emotion.”
It is as if the Ducks heard Murray’s admonishment from the ice surface and took it to heart hours later. There was plenty of emotion from the opening puck drop and the Kings were the ideal opponent to bring that out.
Some of that boiled over in the second period. Corey Perry, who has long been a nuisance around NHL nets, had a running battle with equally feisty Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. The two didn’t hold back nearly six minutes in, throwing jabs at each other with offsetting roughing penalties as the final result.
They mixed it up again after the Kings killed off an Andy Andreoff retaliatory roughing penalty following a hit from the Ducks’ Chris Wagner. Quick jabbed at Perry’s backside, but the winger stayed in front and battled for space with Kings defenseman Oscar Fantenberg as the Ducks had possession of the puck.
It might have been enough to throw Quick off a bit. Rakell got the puck beyond the right circle and rifled a shot that took a favorable angle up off the stick of Kings rookie Alex Iafallo and went over the goalie’s shoulder, popping the water bottle behind him.
Kings coach John Stevens went for a challenge on the basis that Perry interfered with Quick but the on-ice call stood as replays showed Perry’s skate did little to hinder him from getting across to challenge the shot. Stevens lost his timeout, Rakell had his goal and the Ducks had a 3-1 edge.
Big hits from both sides only added to the great theater and the Ducks fed off it, though they lost another player as Ondrej Kase never returned after incurring an upper-body injury when Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid leveled him. MacDermid received a 5-minute interference penalty and a game misconduct for the hit.
“Everybody feels something extra with these games,” Rakell said. “Just having these games, I think it brings something special. It’s a playoff feeling. It’s always a battle. Yeah, we know we have each other and we know what kind of games it’s going to be.”
But the Kings are a responsive bunch. Even in a losing effort Saturday against Nashville, the team erased the Predators’ three-goal lead before falling in overtime.
Kempe trimmed the Ducks’ lead to one with a last-minute finish off some terrific passing from Toffoli and Tanner Pearson. The Kings then turned their game up in a 17-shot third period and the Ducks were left with a defeat that stung more than others.
“For sure it does,” Rakell said. “Especially when we have the lead and felt like we really wanted it in here. It was so close.”
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