Anaheim made a late bid to erase a one-goal deficit, pulling its goalie and pressing for an equalizer, but Los Angeles held on for a 2-1 preseason win at Honda Center. The Ducks finished with a 22-18 advantage in shots, yet Anton Forsberg turned away the closing chances that mattered most.
The result came in the first of two preseason meetings between the clubs. The game stayed within a goal at the finish, and Anaheim’s late pressure gave the final stretch a clear edge-of-the-seat quality without changing the outcome.
How the Game Played Out
The opening sequence brought the Kings into the Anaheim zone, where Forsberg was tested early. The Ducks worked to keep the puck in Los Angeles territory, and a shot from the blue line produced a rebound opportunity. The Kings’ goaltender got a piece of the initial attempt, and Anaheim could not turn the follow-up into a goal.
As the game unfolded, Los Angeles looked to move quickly through the middle and attack after Anaheim changes. The Ducks answered with their own offensive-zone shifts, including a point shot and a redirection in front that went just wide of the far post. Those chances reflected the contest’s back-and-forth rhythm, but the available scoring detail does not provide a reliable period-by-period breakdown or identify every goal scorer.
One confirmed name on the scoresheet is Joel Armia, the listed winning-goal scorer for Los Angeles. The final score shows the Kings finishing with two goals to Anaheim’s one. Forsberg was central to protecting that lead, including a stop on a close-range chance that nearly brought the Ducks level.
Anaheim continued to push as the game wore on. The Ducks earned multiple power-play opportunities, and one doorstep bid was denied when Forsberg moved across to make the save. Later, with the net empty, Anaheim tried to build a final attack through the middle and direct a quick shot on goal. Forsberg kicked that attempt away, and another opportunity went wide after a faceoff sequence. The Ducks’ 22-18 shot edge captured their volume, but the Kings’ goaltender kept the late surge from becoming an equalizer.
What the Result Means
For Los Angeles, the narrow win provides a positive result in preseason play and a chance to carry a successful finish into the next meeting. Armia’s listed winning goal and Forsberg’s late stops were the clearest pieces of the 2-1 outcome.
Anaheim can take encouragement from sustaining pressure and finishing ahead in shots, though the comeback remained incomplete. With a second preseason meeting between the teams still ahead, the Ducks will have another opportunity to turn that offensive push into a different result.
Watch the Highlights
Watch the NHL highlight package for the early chances, Forsberg’s key saves and Anaheim’s push with the net empty. The video provides the game action from this first preseason meeting between the Kings and Ducks.
Final Score: Los Angeles Kings 2, Anaheim Ducks 1.
Final Score: Anaheim Ducks 1, Los Angeles Kings 2.
Source: NHL.com + Highlightly match data and video transcript