Anaheim’s kids stole the show: Beckett Sennecke factored on all three Ducks markers—including the shootout winner—while Mason McTavish delivered the dagger as the Ducks erased a 2-0 hole and vaulted past the Kings 3-2 inside Crypto.com Arena.
How It Went Down
Los Angeles struck first and fast—Quinton Byfield wired his ninth goal 98 ticks in, cashing a Joel Armia rush. Armia himself doubled the lead at 11:24 of the second, finishing a slick backhand from Andre Lee.
Anaheim looked lifeless until Ryan Strome finally snapped a 22-game goal drought, whistling a screened shot past Darcy Kuemper 39 seconds after Armia’s tally. Momentum flipped three minutes later when undrafted rookie Tim Washe—fresh off an NCAA title at Western Michigan—banked his first NHL goal from a sharp angle off the end-board carom.
Overtime solved nothing, so the rivalry spilled to a shootout. After Lukas Dostal stoned both Kings attempts, Sennecke slow-walked Kuemper and slipped five-hole. McTavish, the league’s career shootout leader at a 57 % clip, froze the goalie with his trademark delay to seal the Freeway Faceoff opener.
By the Numbers
- Sennecke: 2 primary assists, shootout winner, 15:32 TOI in only his 11th career game.
- Dostal: 26 saves plus 2-for-2 in the shootout; Anaheim’s PK entered 30th yet blanked L.A. on two chances.
- Kings: 1-for-12 in shootouts this season; 1-5 in their last six overall.
- Ducks: 2-0-0 since a nine-game slide; both wins without top scorers Leo Carlsson (thigh) and Troy Terry (IR).
What It Means
Anaheim’s rebuild just found a pulse. Missing 40 % of their offense, the Ducks leaned on two 20-year-olds to author their most dramatic win of the season. Sennecke—the No. 3 pick last June—now has six points in his last five games, validating the front office’s faith in his 6-3 playmaking frame.
For Los Angeles, the shootout bug bites again. A roster built on puck possession finished regulation with 28 shots, below their 32.8 season average, and managed only one high-danger chance in overtime. With Pacific points at a premium, coughing up a 2-0 lead to your hallway rival stings twice as hard.
Looking Ahead
The clubs hop on the 5 Freeway for a Saturday-night rematch at Honda Center. Expect Carlsson to be a game-time decision—his thigh issue already jeopardizing Olympic availability. Meanwhile, the Kings may shuffle lines after a collective 0-for-4 night from their top-six forwards at even strength.
Fan-Angle Nuggets
- Washe Watch: The Michigander went from undrafted free agent to cult hero in 48 hours; his goal song (“Don’t Stop Believin’”) trended locally on X.
- McTavish Money: Captaincy chatter grows if he keeps rescuing points—five of Anaheim’s last seven wins have featured a McTavish shootout or OT goal.
- Rivalry Heat: Friday marked the 256th Freeway Faceoff meeting; Anaheim owns a 129-119-8 edge and has won four straight home-and-home openers.
Bottom line: the Ducks’ youth movement arrived in dramatic fashion, while the Kings left their own barn searching for answers—and possibly a new shootout philosophy—before the freeway trek south.
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