Ducks Rally Past Kings in Shootout Thriller Behind Sennecke’s Clutch Night
LOS ANGELES - The Anaheim Ducks are starting to find their footing again, and Friday night’s 3-2 shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena might just be the spark they’ve been searching for.
Beckett Sennecke, the 19-year-old rookie who’s been turning heads since his call-up, delivered in a big way - notching two assists and scoring in the shootout to help the Ducks erase a two-goal deficit and steal a win from their division rivals. It’s the Ducks’ second straight victory after snapping a brutal nine-game skid earlier in the week.
Let’s break this one down.
Kings Jump Ahead Early
The Kings wasted no time putting pressure on Anaheim, striking just 1:38 into the game. Quinton Byfield, leading a 3-on-1 rush, opted to keep the puck himself - a bold choice that paid off.
He snapped a shot from the right circle, beating Lukas Dostal short side to give L.A. the early 1-0 edge. It was a textbook example of trusting your instincts on the rush, and Byfield made it count.
Midway through the second period, the Kings doubled their lead thanks to Joel Armia, who was back in the lineup after missing five games with an upper-body injury. Armia buried a one-timer from the left circle off a slick cross-slot feed from Andre Lee. That made it 2-0, and at that point, the Kings looked in control.
But Anaheim wasn’t done.
Ducks Strike Back in a Flash
Ryan Strome answered just 39 seconds later with a well-executed give-and-go that started with a drop pass to Jackson LaCombe in the high slot. LaCombe quickly returned the puck to Strome, who ripped a one-timer from the top of the left circle past Darcy Kuemper to cut the lead in half.
Then came a moment Tim Washe won’t forget.
Playing in just his sixth NHL game, the 25-year-old rookie found himself in the right place at the right time. After Jacob Trouba’s one-timer from the point missed wide, the puck took a friendly bounce off the end boards and came out to the other side - right where Washe was waiting.
He buried it into the open net to tie the game 2-2 with 5:04 left in the second. His first NHL goal, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Dostal Holds Strong, Sennecke Seals It
Lukas Dostal was steady in net for Anaheim, turning away 26 shots and keeping the Ducks in it during the third period and overtime. His composure under pressure was a key factor, especially as the Kings pushed hard late.
In the shootout, it was Sennecke who delivered the decisive blow. The rookie forward, already with two assists on the night, showed poise beyond his years, beating Kuemper clean to help Anaheim secure the win.
It’s a big moment for a Ducks team that had been reeling just a few days ago. After losing nine straight, they’ve now put together back-to-back wins - first against the Stars, now against the Kings - and are starting to look like a team that’s rediscovering its identity.
What’s Next
The Ducks and Kings will run it back on Saturday, this time in Anaheim, to close out the home-and-home set. With both teams jockeying for position in a tight Western Conference, expect another high-intensity battle.
For Anaheim, the key will be building off this momentum - and continuing to get contributions from their young core. If Sennecke, Washe, and company keep playing like this, the Ducks might just be turning the corner.