Ducks Dig Deep, Sweep Kings in OT Thriller Behind Granlund’s Winner
ANAHEIM - Just a couple of weeks ago, the Ducks were stuck in a rut, mired in a nine-game winless streak and searching for answers. Now? They’re finding them - and fast.
Anaheim capped off a statement weekend with a 2-1 overtime win against the rival Kings at Honda Center on Saturday night. It wasn’t flashy.
It wasn’t easy. But it was exactly the kind of gritty, team-first effort that’s fueling this midseason turnaround.
The hero of the night? Mikael Granlund, who buried the game-winner in overtime thanks to a heads-up hustle play from rookie Beckett Sennecke - a moment that perfectly captured the Ducks’ renewed identity.
A Rivalry Reclaimed
This wasn’t just any win. With Saturday’s victory, the Ducks swept the home-and-home series against Los Angeles - taking the first leg in a shootout on Friday - and secured the season series over the Kings for the first time since the 2017-18 campaign.
That’s a big deal for a team trying to reestablish itself in the Pacific Division pecking order.
“We knew it was gonna be a big week for us, big weekend for us, and we came through,” Granlund said postgame. “We're playing the right way right now, so that gives us a chance to win these games.”
After a brutal stretch, Anaheim has now rattled off three straight wins - their first such streak since early December - and they’re doing it with a short bench. With leading scorer Leo Carlsson out for several weeks and Troy Terry on IR, the Ducks have leaned into a simplified, no-frills game plan. And it’s working.
Grinding It Out
Saturday’s win was the kind of game that doesn’t show up in highlight reels, but coaches love to watch on film.
Anaheim opened the scoring in the first period thanks to a smooth transition play finished off by Mason McTavish. But the Kings clawed back in the second, capitalizing on a five-on-three power play - one of five penalties the Ducks had to kill off in that middle frame.
Still, Anaheim’s penalty kill stood tall, going 5-for-6 on the night and continuing a strong recent trend. It was the first power-play goal they’d allowed in five games, and over their last six contests, they’ve killed 19 of 20 penalties. That’s a massive leap for a unit that ranked 28th in the league before January.
“Our penalty killing got us through it,” said head coach Joel Quenneville. “That was a big test in that period. Some nights, you're not gonna like the way it goes, but sticking with it - that's the key.”
Ville Husso made 17 saves in net for Anaheim, while Anton Forsberg turned away 31 shots for the Kings, who now lead the league with 13 overtime or shootout losses.
Sennecke’s Moment
Granlund may have finished the game, but the moment belonged to Beckett Sennecke.
In the extra frame, Kings forward Kevin Fiala looked to be breaking away for a potential game-winner. But Sennecke - just 19 years old - didn’t give up on the play.
He tracked Fiala down, lifted his stick cleanly from behind, and poked the puck free. Granlund scooped it up, and with Sennecke sprinting back into the play as a passing option, Granlund had the space he needed to rip the shot past Forsberg.
“That was a great play by Becks. That’s the effort we need,” Granlund said.
“We weren’t even close to getting to overtime in the last few weeks. Now we’re giving ourselves a chance to win.”
That’s the difference right now. The Ducks aren’t reinventing the wheel - they’re just doing the little things right.
Backchecking. Staying on the right side of the puck.
Making smart decisions.
“Just habits,” McTavish said. “Doing the right things over and over again doesn’t just happen overnight.
We’ve really put an emphasis on staying on top of guys. Our goalie’s been unreal too, but the biggest thing is closing quick in the D-zone and giving them less time.”
Pacific Division Logjam
With the two points, Anaheim (24-21-3, 51 points) pulled into a four-way tie with Los Angeles (19-16-13), San Jose (24-20-3), and Seattle (21-17-9) for the final two playoff spots in the Pacific Division and the second Western Conference wild card.
The Sharks and Kraken each have a game in hand on both the Ducks and Kings, but Anaheim is firmly in the fight - something that felt like a long shot just a couple of weeks ago.
Up next: the Ducks host the New York Rangers on Monday before heading out on a five-game northwestern road trip that includes a showdown with league-leading Colorado on Wednesday and a key divisional tilt in Seattle on Friday.
Viel Makes His Presence Felt
One of the newest Ducks wasted no time making an impression.
Jeffrey Viel, acquired Friday in a trade with Boston, suited up less than 24 hours after landing in Southern California. The 6-foot-1, 214-pound forward brought immediate energy to the third line - and wasn’t shy about introducing himself to the rivalry.
Viel dropped the gloves with 6-foot-6 Sam Helenius in the first period and held his own in a spirited tilt.
“It was awesome. Great fight,” McTavish said.
“He played hard. He’s definitely not fun to play against.
Forechecked really hard, lays the body, and plays a hard game. He was awesome.”
Viel, who arrived in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick (the better of two picks acquired in the Zegras and Gibson trades), said the whirlwind move didn’t faze him.
“I felt very welcome. Everyone welcomed me with open arms,” Viel said.
“The last 24 hours were kind of crazy. Got the call around noon yesterday and flew out at five.
It was a quick turnaround.”
But just like the Ducks’ game lately - no time wasted. Get in, get to work, and make an impact.
Final Takeaway
This was one of those wins that doesn’t just show up in the standings - it shows up in the locker room. The Ducks are rediscovering their identity, and it’s rooted in effort, structure, and accountability. They’re not just playing better - they’re playing the right way.
And if they can keep that going, especially with reinforcements still on the shelf, this team could be a real problem down the stretch.