The Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks face off Saturday night at Staples Center in a battle of two teams currently on the outside looking in at the NHL Western Conference playoff chase. The Kings (29-23-12) are three points behind the eighth spot in the west.
The Ducks (28-27-10) are seven points out of a postseason berth, but are coming off a 3-2 home win Friday night against Buffalo.
"It was an emotional one," Ryan Getzlaf told the Associated Press. "That's a big win for our group. We've got half the battle won this weekend. Tonight's an emotional one and we've got to enjoy it right now and get ready for the next one."
The Kings are 2-1 since acquiring Jeff Carter from Columbus.
"Just having Carter in the lineup gives you more of that balance," head coach Darryl Sutter said after Friday's practice. "It's a better team. From ice level, you see more size, more speed, more hockey sense. So that's the balance right there. It's not so much what he can do, but how it spreads it out then."
Tonight's 7:30 p.m. PST game will be televised by Fox Sports West. For more on Kings hockey, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown. For more on Ducks hockey, be sure to read Anaheim Calling.