Ryan Kesler started the rally. Corey Perry finished it.
The Anaheim Ducks, challenged two days ago by head coach Bruce Boudreau, used a four-goal outburst in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit and defeat the rival L.A. Kings by a final score of 4-2 on Friday.
Kesler had gone nine games without a goal, or a point for that matter. He got the comeback going by snapping out of his own drought with a goal less than five minutes into the third period. The Ducks took over on the score board from there. They held the edge in shots on goal -- the Kings had more attempts at even strength, as per hockeystats.ca, but could only get 12 shots on John Gibson through the final 40 minutes.
Ducks say it's the fifth time they've rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third to win. Second one against Kings, the other on Nov. 12.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) February 28, 2015
Ryan Kesler was in the middle of both against the Kings. Precisely why the Ducks wanted him last March and got him in June.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) February 28, 2015
It’s a big win for the Ducks. More importantly, they were looking for a better effort, more emotion in their game, as they looked to break free from recent struggles that had seen them go 6-7-1 in 14 games.
Corey Perry scored the winner, then added the empty net goal with 24 seconds remaining, ending any hope of a Kings comeback in the final minute.
The Kings, who played the night before and were shut out by relative unknown goalie Andrew Hammond and the Ottawa Senators, have now lost two in a row after their eight-game winning streak.