Useless Note: Kings Record since I started doing the GDT: 17-15-5
It's been a great pleasure to do the GDT for you guys. Thank you for not giving me (too) much crap.
Tons of thanks to Blueline for all he did as well.
I just want to let you all know (mainly those who I see at Team L.A. during intermission) that I will see you guys next season. I was driving to the game on Thursday night at around 6:05 pm. I was on the I-5 South and was about to get to the 110 South when a truck slammed into the back my car because he was driving recklessly and did not hit the brakes in time. I suffered some whiplash because of that. I just ended up driving home and went to see a doctor today. I'll miss tomorrow's home finale as well, which is a huge bummer. But I just wanted to let you guys know because I care about you guys. All of you made going to the games fun even though we're suffering through another losing season. So thanks again, and see you all next season.
Now... onto the final GDT of the season!
Los Angeles Kings (32-42-7) 71 pts VS. 
Anaheim Ducks (45-27-8) 98 ptsGame Time: 1:00 PM PST | 4:00 PM EST
Location: Staples Center | Los Angeles, CA
TV Broadcast: Home & Away Team: FSN-W
Promotional Giveaway: Fan Appreciation Day
Radio Broadcast: 1150 AM; XM 206 Online broadcast: NHL Radio Internet Stream: Must use SopCast 
Ducks @ Kings Game Notes
The Anaheim Ducks are getting healthier and building momentum with the playoffs approaching. The Los Angeles Kings are showing they won't be pushovers against in-state rivals that are postseason-bound.
Coming off a nearly one-week break, the Ducks head to Staples Center to meet the lowly Kings, who will play their final game of 2007-08.
Anaheim (45-27-8) has gone 18-5-1 after a season-high six-game losing streak from Jan. 20-Feb. 2. The Ducks have two regular-season games left to prepare for the playoffs and will likely have home-ice advantage in the first round.
But Anaheim hasn't played since a 3-2 shootout win on Sunday over Dallas, its likely quarterfinal opponent. A contest with the Western Conference-worst Kings (32-42-7) could be a good opportunity for the Ducks to get back into a flow, having gone 5-2-0 against them this season.
Anaheim, however, is 1-2-0 at Staples Center, converting just one of its 16 power-play chances. And Los Angeles is coming off a win over another California rival headed to postseason play, beating San Jose 4-2 on Thursday night to hand the Sharks their first regulation loss in 21 games.
The Ducks' late-season break could work to their advantage, giving banged-up players a chance to rest before the increased intensity of a playoff series.
Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim's leading scorer, returned against the Stars after being out three games with a sore shoulder, and assisted on both of Schneider's goals. Getzlaf, having a career season, has four goals and two assists in his last four games against the Kings. The third-year center also has 23 goals and 56 assists in 75 games this season.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere returned against Dallas as well, making 23 saves after missing three straight games with back spasms. Giguere is 9-1-1 with a 1.52 goals-against average in his last 11 games.
Defenseman Chris Pronger will finish his eight-game suspension for intentionally stepping on the leg of Vancouver's Ryan Kesler. The 2000 MVP is scheduled to return for the regular-season finale on Sunday against Phoenix.
The Kings, meanwhile, will finish last in their division for the first time since 1998-99 and seventh time in franchise history.
Los Angeles also is tied with Tampa Bay in the race to avoid finishing with the league's worst record. Both teams have 71 points and play their season finale on Saturday, with the Lightning visiting Atlanta. The only season in which the Kings had the fewest points was 1969-70, when they had 38.
But Los Angeles is showing some fight down the stretch, winning two of its last three at home.
Leading scorer Anze Kopitar scored twice in the final 5:38 against San Jose. He has three goals and seven assists in six career games against the Ducks in Los Angeles, and the second-year center has 32 goals and 44 assists in 81 games this season.
Los Angeles forward Alexander Frolov has three goals and three assists in a six-game point streak at home against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
The Kings have a home record of 17-20-3 and their last 10 games is a record of 5-4-1.
The Ducks have a road record of 18-18-4, and their last 10 games is a record of 7-2-1.
"It felt good to get a win, especially against this team," Kings rookie goaltender
Erik Ersberg said after making 32 saves. "They've gone 20 games without a loss so it's good that we could break that streak. It was a fun game."
"We were very deserving of the win tonight," coach
Marc Crawford said. "I thought our defense was very stingy tonight and as a team we really checked them into the ground and didn't give them a lot of chances."
Anze Kopitar: (Re: Game recap) “This is kind of a game we want to play to get ready for next season for the big games. I think we all contributed to this result, and we’re happy to get the win.”
(Re: finishing season on a high note) “I think right now we’re playing for the fans. They’ve supported us all season when we didn’t have a very good season. They’ve been so loyal to us, and we’ve got to pay them back with a strong last game. We’re playing against the Ducks too, so it should really be buzzing in the building.”
(Re: Game recap) “We got down pretty quick on the first shift, but we didn’t panic. We knew we had nothing to lose, and that we could play better. We stepped out the gate and outshot them in the first period which really got the crowd in the game. I think we kind of deserved this win. We had a lot of chances that we didn’t put in the back of the net at first, but luckily in the end the bounces went our way.”
Los Angeles Kings
Kyle Calder (Broken finger on 3/20/08) day-to-day
Dan Cloutier (Right groin strain on 3/27/08) day-to-day
Jack Johnson (Fractured right foot on 3/18/08) day-to-day
Jason LaBarbera (Sports hernia surgery on 2/21/08) day-to-day
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) IR
Anaheim Ducks
Ryan Carter (Bruised right forearm on 2/21/08) IR
Corey Perry (Right quad tendon laceration on 3/7/08) day-to-day
03/26/08 - Kings @ Ducks 2-1 (Ducks win in Shootout)
01/24/08 - Ducks @ Kings 3-1 (Kings win)
11/25/07 - Kings @ Ducks 3-2 (Ducks win)
11/15/07 - Ducks @ Kings 6-3 (Ducks win)
11/13/07 - Kings @ Ducks 4-3 (Ducks win in Shootout)
09/30/07 - Kings @ Ducks in London 4-1 (Ducks win)
09/29/07 - Ducks @ Kings in London 4-1 (Kings win)
Kings All-Time Record against Anaheim (36-31-16) All-time Series ResultsLeading Scorers:
Forwards: 
Kopitar, LA - 76 points (32 G, 44 A, -16) |
Getzlaf, ANA - 79 points (23 G, 56 A, +27) Defensemen: 
Visnovsky, LA - 40 points (8 G, 32 A, -17) |
Schneider, ANA - 39 points (12 G, 27 A, +20) GAA:
LA – 3.20 (28th in NHL)
ANA – 2.24 (2nd in NHL)
Avg. Goals:
LA – 2.75 (13th in NHL)
ANA – 2.39 (28th in NHL)
Power Play %:
LA – 17.6 (16th in NHL)
ANA – 16.7 (21st in NHL)
Penalty Kill %:
LA – 77.9 (29th in NHL)
ANA – 83.1 (10th in NHL)
(As of 4/4/08)
Pacific Division Standings:
1. San Jose Sharks (49-22-10) 108 pts
2. Anaheim Ducks (45-27-8) 98 pts
3. Dallas Stars (44-30-7) 95 pts
4. Phoenix Coyotes (38-37-6) 82 pts
5. Los Angeles Kings (32-42-7) 71 pts
Western Conference Standings:
1 Red Wings 113
2 Sharks 108
3 Wild 97
4 Ducks 98
5 Stars 95
6 Avalanche 93
7 Flames 92
8 Predators 91
------------------
9 Blackhawks 88
10 Canucks 88
11 Oilers 88
12 Coyotes 82
13 Blue Jackets 80
14 Blues 75
15 Kings 71
Bottom of the Cellar Standings:
26 Islanders 79 points, 0 games remaining
27 Blues 75 points, 2 games remaining
28 Thrashers 74 points, 1 game remaining
29 Kings 71 points, 1 game remaining
30 Lightning 71 points, 1 game remaining
Key Game Tonight:
Blue Jackets @ Blues 2:00 PM PST | 5:00 PM EST
Sabres @ Bruins 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Maple Leafs @ Canadiens 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Panthers @ Capitals 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Lightning @ Thrashers 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Flames @ Canucks 7:00 PM PST | 10:00 PM EST