After a frustrating nine-game stretch without a win, the Anaheim Ducks finally got the monkey off their back earlier this week with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars. But even with that weight lifted, the Ducks still found themselves four games out of the playoff picture heading into a pivotal weekend series against the Los Angeles Kings-another team struggling to find its footing.
The Kings, while not in as deep a hole, had only managed five wins in their last 17 games. So when these two SoCal rivals met for a back-to-back set, it wasn’t just about points-it was about momentum, identity, and maybe even survival in a tightly contested Western Conference.
Roster Shakeups and Lineup Challenges
Heading into the weekend, Anaheim’s lineup was in flux. They acquired forward Jeff Viel from the Bruins, but also took some tough hits: Troy Terry was placed on IR, and promising rookie Leo Carlsson underwent a procedure for a rare thigh lesion that will sideline him for 3-5 weeks. Chris Kreider was also unavailable due to illness.
To help patch the holes, Sam Colangelo was called up from AHL San Diego and slotted into Friday’s lineup, while Viel made his Ducks debut on Saturday. With that many key forwards out, Anaheim had to get creative. What they iced over the weekend was essentially two second lines and two fourth lines-a patchwork group that had to grind for every inch.
Between the Pipes: Dostal and Husso Deliver
Goaltending was a major storyline in both games. Lukas Dostal got the nod Friday and turned in a strong performance, stopping 26 of 28 shots and giving the Ducks a chance to steal a 3-2 shootout win. On Saturday, Ville Husso stepped in and held his ground, saving 17 of 18 in another solid outing.
The Kings countered with Darcy Kuemper on Friday, who matched Dostal save-for-save through regulation and overtime before falling in the shootout. Anton Forsberg took over on Saturday and delivered 31 saves on 33 shots, but Anaheim still found a way to edge ahead.
Tactical Adjustments: Ducks Get Gritty
With their forward depth thinned, Anaheim had to tweak its approach. The Kings are known for being one of the most defensively disciplined teams in the league-low event, low margin for error.
So the Ducks leaned into a more gritty, grind-it-out style. If clean zone entries weren’t there, they didn’t force it.
Instead, they chipped pucks deep and went to work below the goal line.
Defensively, Anaheim returned to a more aggressive second-pressure system. It burned them early on Friday, but they tightened things up as the weekend wore on. From the second half of Friday’s game through Saturday, the Ducks played a more composed, layered defensive style-similar to what worked for them earlier in the week against Dallas.
Beckett Sennecke: The Breakout Star
Let’s talk about Beckett Sennecke. The 19-year-old winger was a revelation this weekend.
He picked up three assists and was a constant threat with the puck on his stick-or even when it wasn’t. Sennecke’s anticipation is already elite for his age.
He reads the game a step ahead, has a knack for sniffing out loose pucks, and consistently finds ways to get himself into dangerous positions.
Whether it was driving play, supporting the cycle, or making smart reads in transition, Sennecke filled a massive offensive void left by the absences of Carlsson, Terry, Kreider, and Cutter Gauthier (who was limited due to illness). His puck skills and small-area tenacity stood out, but it’s his hockey IQ-the sense of where the play is going before it happens-that’s turning heads.
Defensive Zone Coverage: Cleaning Up the Chaos
On Friday, the Kings had some success exploiting Anaheim’s defensive zone coverage. LA’s forwards were able to spin off defenders down low and find soft spots for dangerous one-timers. Dostal had to be sharp to keep the game within reach.
But on Saturday, the Ducks made the necessary adjustments. The defense corps and all four centers made a concerted effort to collapse around the net, box out effectively, and eliminate second-chance opportunities.
LA tried to counter by pulling their high forward (F3) up to the blue line to confuse Anaheim’s center coverage, but the Ducks stayed locked in on protecting the slot. It worked.
Offensive Zone Cycle: Defensemen Step In
One of the more encouraging developments came in the offensive zone. Anaheim’s defensemen were far more engaged on Saturday, disrupting LA’s man coverage by jumping into the cycle and creating movement up top. That activity helped pull Kings defenders out of position, opening up cross-ice seams and downhill lanes for extended puck possession.
It wasn’t just about keeping the puck in the zone-it was about dictating play and forcing LA to defend for longer stretches. That’s the kind of hockey Anaheim wants to play, and for the first time in a while, they were able to execute it.
Tim Washe: Making His Presence Felt
Tim Washe is quietly carving out a role. Five games into his NHL call-up, he’s showing he belongs.
While not flashy, Washe is doing the little things right-especially on the forecheck. He’s been effective as the F1, pressuring opposing defensemen, disrupting outlet passes, and keeping plays alive below the goal line.
He scored his first NHL goal on Friday, a well-earned reward for the kind of blue-collar effort he brings every shift. He followed that up by winning seven of 10 faceoffs on Saturday, after going 5-for-11 on Friday. He’s proving to be a versatile, reliable option in the bottom six-exactly what the Ducks need with so many regulars out.
Final Takeaway
This weekend didn’t just mark a couple of wins for Anaheim-it showed a team adjusting on the fly, leaning on emerging talent, and finding ways to compete despite a depleted roster. The Ducks aren’t out of the woods yet, but if they can keep getting this kind of buy-in, structure, and goaltending, they might just claw their way back into the mix.