Freeway Face-Off
Encyclopedia
| Anaheim Ducks–Los Angeles Kings | |
|---|---|
| History | |
| 1st Meeting | December 2, 1993 |
| 1st Result | LAK: 3-2 |
| Location | Great Western Forum |
| Last Meeting | April 9, 2011 |
| Last Result | ANA: 3-1 |
| Location | Staples Center Staples Center Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles... |
| Next Meeting | November 16, 2011 |
| Location | Staples Center Staples Center Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles... |
| Number of Meetings | 102 |
| All-Time Series | ANA: 46-45-11 (.505) |
| Current Streak | ANA: 3 |
| Post Season History | |
| Post Season Series | 0 |
| Post Season Games | 0 |
The term Freeway Face-off refers to a series of hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
games played between the National Hockey League's
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, both of the Pacific Division
Pacific Division (NHL)
The National Hockey League's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. It was formed in 1993 as part of a league realignment...
of the Western Conference
Western Conference (NHL)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
. The series takes its name from the massive freeway system in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
, the home of both teams; one could travel from one team's arena to the other simply by traveling along Interstate 5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
. The term is akin to the Freeway Series
Freeway Series
The term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League and the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League...
which refers to meetings between the Los Angeles
Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
The Los Angeles metropolitan area, also known as Metropolitan Los Angeles or the Southland, is the 13th largest metropolitan area in the world and the second-largest metropolitan area in the United States....
area baseball teams.
History
Along with the enmity shared between the city of Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and adjacent Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
similar to baseball's Freeway Series
Freeway Series
The term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League and the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League...
, the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
share an on-ice rivalry due to sheer geographic proximity. The two teams are situated in the same metropolitan area, and share a television market. The rivalry started with the Ducks' inaugural season in , and has since continued.
The Kings last made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
in , but have popped back into the playoff picture on five different seasons. The Ducks since their inauguration have made the playoffs seven times. As of 2010–11, the Kings and Ducks have never met in the playoffs. Since 2003, the Ducks recent success in the playoffs, including the winning of the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in 2007 has bolstered Anaheim's fan base, at the same time the Kings' fan base still remains intact with loyal fans despite a recent lack of success. The Ducks also went to the Finals during their Cinderella
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
run of 2003.
During regular season (and, to some extent, pre-season) games, Kings fans arrive at the Honda Center in numbers for away games against the Ducks, and Ducks fans have done the same at Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
. Games between the Southern California crosstown-rivals are often very physical and fight-filled. The rivalry was showcased for the NHL premier in London at the start of the 2007–08 NHL season with two games between the teams.
The rivalry was further heated during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
, which was hosted by the Kings in their home arena of Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
. When the Ducks took the stage to announce Cam Fowler
Cam Fowler
Cam Fowler is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . He was selected twelfth overall by the Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft...
as their 1st round, 12 overall pick, the audience predominantly consisting of Kings fans, let out boos.
Prior to 2007, there was no official name for the regular season meetings between the Ducks and Kings, the "Freeway Face-off" name was chosen by a poll of 12,000 local hockey fans. Other names being considered were "Freeze-way Series" and "Ice-5 Series."
Brothers
SeanSean Pronger
Sean James Pronger is a former professional ice-hockey player who grew up in Dryden, Ontario, and played in the National Hockey League from 1995 to 2004...
(ANA: 1995—98; LA: 1999) and Chris Pronger
Chris Pronger
Christopher Robert Pronger is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Originally selected 2nd overall by the Hartford Whalers in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Pronger has played for Hartford, the St...
(ANA: 2006—09)
Other players
Several players have played for both teams, including:- Ken BaumgartnerKen BaumgartnerKenneth James Baumgartner is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League for twelve seasons.-Biography:...
—Kings 1987–1990, 1993; Ducks 1995–1997 - Jim Thompson—Kings 1991–1992, 1993; Ducks 1993
- Lonnie LoachLonnie LoachLonnie Loach is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Loach spent the majority of his career in the IHL but also played briefly in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim...
—Kings 1992–1993; Ducks 1994 - Warren RychelWarren RychelWarren Stanley Rychel is a Canadian former professional ice hockey Left winger who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League. He is currently part-owner of the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League.-Career:...
—Kings 1992–1995; Ducks 1996–1998 - Doug HoudaDoug HoudaDoug Houda is a former National Hockey League defenceman. He was drafted in the second round, 28th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League....
—Kings 1993–1994; Ducks 1998 - Bob CorkumBob CorkumRobert Freeman Corkum is a retired American professional ice hockey center. He was drafted in the third round, 47th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:...
—Ducks 1993–1996; Kings 1999–2001 - Stu GrimsonStu GrimsonA. Stuart Grimson is a former Canadian ice hockey forward. Grimson played in the National Hockey League from 1989 to 2002. During this time, he played for the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings,...
—Ducks 1993–1995, 1998–2000; Kings 2000–2001 - Sean O'DonnellSean O'DonnellSean "O.D." O'Donnell is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League...
—Kings 1994–2000, 2008–2010; Ducks 2005–2008 - Dan BylsmaDan BylsmaDan Bylsma is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League as of February 15, 2009, replacing Michel Therrien. Prior to coaching the Penguins, he played as a forward in the NHL and coached in the American Hockey League . He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1989...
—Kings 1995–2000; Ducks 2000–2004 - Craig Johnson—Kings 1996–2003; Ducks 2003–2004
- Josh GreenJosh GreenJoshua Green is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Oklahoma City Barons, of the American Hockey League .-Playing career:...
—Kings 1998–1999; Ducks 2008–present - Jason Blake—Kings 1998–2001; Ducks 2010–present
- Ted DonatoTed DonatoEdward Paul Donato is a retired American ice hockey player who played in the NHL. Since he retired from professional hockey as a player in 2004, he has served as the head coach for the Harvard University hockey team.-Career:...
—Ducks 1999–2000; Kings 2002 - Mathieu SchneiderMathieu SchneiderMathieu Schneider is a American former professional ice hockey player. Considered an offensive defenseman, Schneider played 1289 games in the National Hockey League with ten different teams, scoring 233 goals and totalling 743 points...
—Kings 2000–2003; Ducks 2007–2008 - Lubomir VisnovskyLubomír VišnovskýĽubomír Višňovský is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
—Kings 2000–2008; Ducks 2010–present - Kip BrennanKip BrennanKip Brennan is a hockey enforcer who is currently playing with the Vityaz Chekhov in the Kontinental Hockey League...
—Kings 2001–2004; Ducks 2005–2006 - Kyle CalderKyle CalderKyle Charles Calder is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League...
—Kings 2007–2009; Ducks 2009–present - Jari KurriJari KurriJari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....
—Kings 1991–1996; Ducks 1996–1997 - Dustin PennerDustin PennerDustin Penner is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . Penner was never drafted by a team in the NHL. He was discovered and signed as a free agent by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim after playing college hockey for the...
—Ducks 2006–2007; Kings 2011–present
Regular season results
| Year | Series Winner | Ducks W | Kings W | Tie | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | Kings 1993–94 Los Angeles Kings season The 1993–94 Los Angeles Kings season involved Wayne Gretzky becoming the all-time leading goal scorer.-Wayne Gretzky’s goal scoring record:* March 23, 1994 – At 14:47 of the second period, Wayne Gretzky scored the 802nd goal of his career... |
2 | 4 | 0 | Mighty Ducks enfranchised prior to the season |
| 1994–95 | Ducks 1994–95 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season The 1994–95 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season was the second season in franchise history. Despite a Conference-worst 5-18-1 record, the team played well at home, with an 11-9-4 record. On April 4, the team traded enforcer Stu Grimson, Mark Ferner and the team's 6th round choice in the 1996 NHL Entry... |
2 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1995–96 | Kings 1995–96 Los Angeles Kings season The 1995–96 Los Angeles Kings season involved Wayne Gretzky being traded to the St. Louis Blues.-Wayne Gretzky trade:*February 27, 1996: Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Los Angeles Kings to the St... |
2 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1996–97 | Ducks 1996–97 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season The 1996–97 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season was the fourth season in franchise history. The team qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.-Game log:-Playoffs:The Mighty Ducks qualified for the playoffs for the first time... |
3 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1997–98 | Kings 1997–98 Los Angeles Kings season The 1997–98 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' thirty-first season of operation in the National Hockey League. On April 11, the Kings scored three short-handed goals in 4-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings qualified for the playoffs, losing in the first round to St. Louis.-Schedule... |
1 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1998–99 | Ducks 1998–99 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season The 1998–99 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season was the sixth season in franchise history.-Game log:-Playoffs:The Mighty Ducks met the Detroit Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs. The Wings swept the Mighty Ducks in four games... |
5 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 | Tie | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2000–01 | Tie | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2001–02 | Kings 2001–02 Los Angeles Kings season The 2001–02 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' 35th season in the NHL.-NHL draft:The Kings' picks made at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida:*Jens Karlsson... |
0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2002–03 | Tie | 2 | 2 | 1 | Mighty Ducks were the eventual Western Conference champions |
| 2003–04 | Kings 2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season The 2003–04 Los Angeles Kings season was their 37th National Hockey League season. The Kings placed third in their division, eleventh overall and failed to qualify for the playoffs.-Schedule and results:-Player stats:-Draft picks:... |
1 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2005–06 | Ducks 2005–06 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim season The 2005–06 Anaheim Ducks season was the 13th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 15, 1993.-2005 Offseason:On June 20, the Ducks hired Brian Burke as their Executive Vice President and General Manager... |
5 | 3 | First year in the current points format (no more ties) | |
| 2006–07 | Tie | 4 | 4 | Ducks were the eventual Stanley Cup champions | |
| 2007–08 | Ducks 2007–08 Anaheim Ducks season The 2007–08 Anaheim Ducks season began September 29, 2007, with a game in London, England, against the Los Angeles Kings. It was the Ducks' 15th season in the National Hockey League... |
6 | 2 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Kings 2008–09 Los Angeles Kings season The 2008–09 Los Angeles Kings season was the 42nd season in the club's history. The Kings showed improvement while fielding the youngest team in the league , but came up short of breaking a playoff drought that stretches back to the 2001-02 season.Despite a crazy schedule which saw them play 17 of... |
3 | 3 | Kings received 7 points to the Ducks 6 points | |
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Kings 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings season The 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings season is the 43rd season in the club's history. For the first time since the 2001–02 NHL season, the Kings qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs.- Pre-season :... |
2 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Ducks 2010–11 Anaheim Ducks season The 2010–11 Anaheim Ducks season was the 18th season of operation for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 15, 1993.... |
4 | 2 | Both teams make the playoffs. | |
| Overall | Kings (7-6-4) | 46 | 45 | 11 |
Regular season
- In the 2007-08 NHL season2007-08 NHL seasonThe 2007–08 NHL season was the 91st season of operation of the National Hockey League . It began on September 29, 2007, with the regular season ending April 6, 2008...
, the Ducks and Kings opened the season by playing a two-game series at O2 ArenaO2 arenaO2 Arena may refer to:*The O2 Arena the arena within the O2 in London.*The O2 , an entertainment complex built within the former Millennium Dome, North Greenwich, that contains the arena.*O2 World in Berlin*O2 World in Hamburg...
in London, England on Sept. 29 and 30th of 2007, respectively. Sept. 29 marked the first hockey game ever played at London's O2 Arena. The opening faceoff was delayed as there was a lighting malfunction in the arena following the national anthems. Los Angeles won the first game by a score of 4-1 with help from then 19-year old goalie Jonathan BernierJonathan BernierJonathan Bernier is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League...
, and two goals from Mike CammalleriMike CammalleriMichael Cammalleri is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Junior:...
. The Ducks split the series however, by beating the Kings by a replicate score of 4-1 in the second game. The second game was notable as Jonas HillerJonas HillerJonas Hiller is a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
made his NHL debut as then-Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien GiguereJean-Sébastien GiguèreJean-Sébastien Giguère is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . He played major junior with the Verdun Collège Français and Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , where he was drafted 13th...
was injured to start the season.
- The Ducks and Kings met on March 26, 2008 at Honda Center in Anaheim for a late-season tilt. Although the Ducks and Kings were polar opposites in the standings that year (Ducks finished 4th in the West, Kings finished 15th in the West), both teams played to an exhausting effort as goalies Jonas Hiller (Anaheim) and Erik ErsbergErik ErsbergErik Ersberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently with the Salavat Yulaev of the Kontinental Hockey League.- Playing career :...
(Los Angeles) made game-stopping saves to help their team. The game was focused centrally on the goaltenders, as Hiller made 31 saves on 32 Kings shots, and Ersberg made 39 saves on 40 Ducks shots. With the score tied 1-1 on goals from Patrick O'SullivanPatrick O'SullivanPatrick O'Sullivan is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently under contract with the Phoenix Coyotes...
(Los Angeles) and Bobby RyanBobby RyanBobby Ryan is a winger currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks. Ryan grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey.-Playing career:...
(Anaheim) through the 3rd period, Kings forward Alexander FrolovAlexander FrolovAlexander Alexandrovich Frolov is a Russian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. In an 8 year National Hockey League career he played with the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers....
stole the puck away from a falling Mathieu Schneider at the blueline and skated full-speed on a breakaway with under 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Frolov faked a shot, but Jonas Hiller made a brilliant pad save much to the applause of the 17,331 fans in attendance at Honda Center. The two teams played through overtime scoreless, and the game had to be settled in shootout. Kings winger Dustin Brown scored first, but Ducks winger Teemu Selanne evened the shootout on the very next shot, keeping the score at 1-1 in the extra frame. The next 5 shooters all missed their attempts until Ducks defenseman Mathieu Schneider scored to put the Ducks ahead 2-1. Los Angeles forward Brian WillsieBrian WillsieBrian Willsie is a Canadian ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Hamilton Bulldogs.-Playing career:Willsie grew up in the small southwestern Ontario town of Belmont, Ontario and played minor hockey for the local Belmont MHA teams and the AAA Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs...
was stopped by Hiller on the next shot, giving the Ducks a 2-1 shootout victory. The win gave the Ducks a playoff spot at 4th in the West, clinching a 2008 postseason berth.
- On January 8, 2009, the Ducks and Kings met for a mid-season game at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The game featured an earthquake midway through the 1st period, felt by some of the players and also the press writers and fans in attendance. The game was not delayed, however. Los Angeles got off to a 2-0 lead late in the 1st and throughout the 2nd on goals from Dustin Brown and Wayne SimmondsWayne SimmondsWayne Simmonds is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League...
. Ducks coach Randy CarlyleRandy CarlyleRandolph Robert Carlyle is a former ice hockey defenceman and formely the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks. He was raised in Azilda, just northwest of Sudbury, Ontario.-Career:...
summoned goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere to the bench for Jonas Hiller shortly thereafter, but the Kings scored again on an Anze KopitarAnže KopitarAnže Kopitar is a Slovene professional ice hockey player and alternate captain of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . The first Slovenian to play in the NHL, Kopitar played junior hockey for his hometown team HK Acroni Jesenice and led his native country before he moved to Sweden...
goal to make it 3-0 Kings. The game looked one-sided in favor of the Kings until Ducks winger Bobby Ryan scored a power-play goal late in the 2nd to put the Ducks on the board. To start the 3rd, Ryan scored again, stuffing in a rebound on a Ryan CarterRyan CarterRyan Michael Carter is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
wristshot to cut the Kings' lead to one goal. The most notable moment of the game, however, came just about a minute later when Ducks center Ryan GetzlafRyan GetzlafRyan Getzlaf is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is a centre and the captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . He grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and he played junior hockey with the Calgary Hitmen...
fed an open Bobby Ryan on the left wing for a scoring attempt. Ryan put on arguably one of the most dazzling moves of the season, as he skated in on an angle towards the net and put on a roller-hockey style spin move around Kings defenseman Peter HarroldPeter HarroldPeter Jacob Harrold is an American ice hockey defenseman for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. Harrold was raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio where he attended Hawken School. Upon graduation from High School, Harrold attended Boston College where he was the captain of the...
. With Harrold frozen from the play, Ryan pulled the puck back on his stick and tucked it in the back of the net past a sprawling Jonathan QuickJonathan QuickJonathan Douglas "Jon" Quick is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
. All 18,118 fans in attendance were utterly amazed, and a huge cheer went up from the large number of Ducks' fans in attendance. Ryan's hat-trick set a Ducks franchise record for fastest hat-trick in team history at 2 minutes, 21 seconds. The score was tied 3-3, giving the visiting Ducks momentum until Los Angeles re-gained the lead on a power-play goal from Alexander Frolov. The Ducks made many last-ditch efforts to tie the game, but Jonathan Quick stonewalled the Ducks' attempts, giving the Kings a 4-3 victory over the Ducks.
Postseason series
As of 20102009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, the Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
have never met in the postseason. Because both teams are in the same division, they could theoretically meet in the Conference Quarter-finals, Conference Semi-finals, or Conference Finals, but could not meet in the Stanley Cup finals unlike MLB's Angels and Dodgers (another rivalry in the area) who can only meet in the championship round (the World Series). In 2011, for the first time since the Ducks were enfranchised in 1993, both Southern California hockey teams made the postseason and could meet in any of the first three rounds depending on the results of the final two days of the regular season.
Fan reaction
Despite not being as publicized as some other NHL rivalries, the Ducks and Kings have a pretty intense rivalry that is known to Western Conference hockey fans, and fans of both teams. The Los Angeles Kings were the first NHL team in Southern California, brought in by the expansion era of 1967-68. The Anaheim Ducks (formerly Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) came into the league for the 1993-94 season along with the Florida PanthersFlorida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
. With the Kings having been in existence for 26 years before the Ducks arrived, many saw the Ducks as taking away from the Kings' fanbase and attention in the local market. The Kings were known to be one of the teams to establish hockey as a foothold in Southern California, largely due to the help of Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
. The Kings' success of the late 1980s and early 1990s really helped spike interest in hockey in Los Angeles, also spawning the growth of inline hockey
Inline hockey
Inline hockey, often referred to as roller hockey in the United States, is a sport similar to ice hockey but played with inline skates. Like its parent sport, skaters on two teams use hockey sticks to direct a disk-shaped puck into the opponent's goal; however, various details of the game, such as...
. The Ducks' arrival in nearby Orange County brought new fans to the Southern California hockey scene, and creating enmity between the two teams and their fans. Many Kings fans who were disillusioned with the team's status after 1993 became Ducks fans. However, both teams have loyal fanbases in large.
The rivalry is also known for local bragging rights, pitting big-city Los Angeles against its southern neighbor Orange County, which is known to be more suburban. Staples Center and Honda Center are less than an hour apart via local freeways. Many Kings fans fill Honda Center in great numbers, but numerous Ducks fans also make the short trip up the freeway to Staples Center as well. In recent years, crowds at both venues are quite diverse due to both teams' recent successes in the last few seasons.
There is much hatred between fans of the two teams. Kings fans like to taunt the Ducks with chants of "Ducks suck" and "Anaheim sucks" at every home game. In contrast, it has been said to hear "Beat LA" and "Stanley Cup" chants from Ducks fans when taunting the Kings.
Other Rivalries in the Los Angeles area
- Major League Baseball: Freeway SeriesFreeway SeriesThe term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League and the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League...
- National Basketball Association: Lakers-Clippers rivalry
- College Football: UCLA–USC rivalry
- Major League Soccer: Honda SuperClasicoHonda SuperClasico-2010 matches:-----2011 matches:-----Summary of all matches:-Results of all meetings:* – US Open Cup match** – Played at LA Memorial Coliseum*** – MLS Cup Playoffs-Other rivalries in the Los Angeles area:...
Former
- National Football League: Rams-Raiders rivalry