Heinen, Backes Send Ducks Past Kings 3-1 In Freeway Faceoff

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Danton Heinen and David Backes scored, and the Anaheim Ducks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night in the first Freeway Faceoff of the season.

John Gibson made 20 saves and Nicolas Deslauriers had an empty-net goal for the Ducks, who got only their fourth victory of the season in the 152nd edition of this Southern California rivalry.

Arthur Kaliyev scored a goal in the 19-year-old's NHL debut for the Kings, who have lost two straight. Cal Petersen stopped 40 shots in a strong performance for Los Angeles.

One year and one day after the last matchup between these struggling rivals, they picked up right where they left off with a fight between Kurtis MacDermid and Deslauriers off the opening faceoff.

Heinen's third goal of the season highlighted a dominant opening period by the Ducks, whose slow starts and weak offense have been constants this season.

Backes put the Ducks up 2-0 in the opening minute of the second period with his first goal since Dec. 1, 2019, with Boston.

Kaliyev's rebound goal trimmed the lead, but Gibson stopped the Kings' final 15 shots.

ARTY PARTY

Kaliyev, the Kings' second-round pick in the 2019 draft, knocked home a rebound of Michael Amadio's shot in the second period for his first NHL goal. The Uzbekistan-born, Staten Island-raised prospect was promoted this week after playing a starring role for the U.S. team at the World Junior Championships.

UP NEXT

The Kings begin a weekend series at Vegas on Friday. The Ducks host the Sharks on Friday.

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