(Sports Network) - While the Kings continue to slide down the standings, the Ducks are hoping to get their season back on track after a big divisional win. Los Angeles tries to avoid losing four straight for the first time this season while Anaheim seeks back-to-back victories following a six-game skid as the two Pacific Division residents clash tonight at the Honda Center.
The early front runners in the division and the Western Conference, the Kings, who are currently tied for ninth in the West, have been outscored 9-4 over their current three-game slide and have also dropped six of their last seven games. Their most recent setback came at home on Saturday, a 2-1 setback to the Blackhawks.
Anze Kopitar scored the lone goal during a 5-on-3 power play and Jonathan Quick made 21 saves.
"We've got to start playing like we did in the beginning of the year, those first 15 games," Kopitar said, referring to the Kings' 12-3-0 start. "We've got to get started again."
Though still 11-4-0 with a 1.91 goals-against average on the season, Quick is just 1-3-0 with 2.96 GAA over his last four starts. He is 5-1-1 with a 2.83 GAA in his career versus the Ducks.
The Kings went 1-3-0 on a four-game road trip before returning home to face Blackhawks. They kick off a four-game homestand on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Ducks halted a 0-4-2 slide on Saturday with a 6-4 triumph over the Coyotes. Bobby Ryan notched his second career hat trick, scoring three of Anaheim's five unanswered goals after falling behind 3-1.
Ryan's first career hat trick came versus the Kings on Jan. 8, 2009.
Brandon McMillan added his first NHL goal in his third career game and Ryan Getzlaf finished with four assists for the Ducks, who won for the first time since Nov. 12. That included a three-game winless homestand prior to Saturday's victory that wrapped with a 4-1 loss to the Blackhawks the previous night.
"That's exactly what we needed after playing Chicago," Getzlaf said. "It's nice to get back and play without a deficit. We played a tough team. We battled and were able to get a few goals."
Jonas Hiller made 30 saves and is 5-5-0 with a 2.47 GAA in his career versus the Kings.
Teemu Selanne missed his third straight game with a groin injury, while Lubomir Visnovsky sat out with back spasms. Both players are questionable for tonight.
Anaheim plays its next four at home and is 7-4-1 as the host this year. The Ducks have won six of their last nine at home over the Kings, but Los Angeles has won six of the last eight between the two overall.
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