Anaheim’s young core found a way in Los Angeles. The Ducks clawed back and edged the Kings 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, grabbing two hard points to open a home-and-home set. It was a night of firsts and statement moments: rookie winger Beckett Sennecke set the tone with two primary helpers and a calm shootout finish, while Tim Washe netted his first career NHL goal. Mason McTavish then closed the book with the deciding shootout strike.

For Anaheim, this result matters. The Ducks had only just snapped a nine-game skid (0-8-1) with a 3-1 win over Dallas. Now they’ve backed it up with a rivalry win on the road. The Kings, meanwhile, were trying to stop a three-game slide that began with an overtime loss to Vegas. Instead, they leave with a single point and more questions in a tight Western wild-card race.

Fast start for LA, steadier response from Anaheim

Los Angeles jumped ahead only 1:38 into the game. Quinton Byfield buried the opener, set up by Joel Armia, and the building popped. The Kings tested the Ducks’ structure and tried to lean on their typical low-event, heavy approach. But Anaheim didn’t blink.

The second period flipped the feeling. The Ducks pushed back with pace and pressure, and their kids led the way. Washe struck at 5:04, finishing a tidy play for his first NHL tally, assisted by Sennecke and J. Trouba. Later in the frame, Ryan Strome made it 2-2 at 7:48, with Sennecke and Jackson LaCombe on the helpers. Armia answered at 8:27 off a feed from A. Lee to keep the game tight heading toward the third.

“Sennecke looked like he’s been here for years — calm, smart, and in the middle of everything.”

Beckett Sennecke’s fingerprints all over it

Sennecke’s night was a mini-breakout on a big stage. He had the primary touch on both Anaheim goals in the second period and then added a composed finish in the shootout. For a player still carving out his spot, those are winning plays in winning moments.

What stood out was his poise. He didn’t rush plays. He found the next pass. He trusted his skill in a noisy building. That is a big sign for a Ducks team trying to grow its next wave while staying in the hunt.

Washe’s milestone and the McTavish moment

Washe’s first goal is the sort of snapshot that sticks. It came in stride, and it came when Anaheim needed a jolt. The bench reaction said it all. These are the details that help a room believe.

When the game reached the skills contest, it was McTavish, one of Anaheim’s most reliable young finishers, who sealed it. He walked in with patience and beat Darcy Kuemper for the winner, after Sennecke had already converted his attempt. The Ducks executed when it mattered most.

“That’s a playoff-style shootout — cool heads from the kids, big points on the road.”

Special teams and discipline set the tone

The whistle was busy all night. The Kings took an early cross-checking minor on Brian Dumoulin (2:35 of the first), and the Ducks were whistled for Alex Killorn’s hold at 5:48. LA had a bench issue later with too many men at 16:21. In the second, Anaheim’s R. Johnston was called for hooking at 10:38, and the Ducks took a bench minor at 15:10.

Special teams didn’t decide the game, but they shaped the flow. The parade to the box gave momentum swings and kept both goalies and penalty kills on alert. Anaheim stayed composed enough in those stretches to reach overtime and, eventually, the shootout.

How the lineups matched up at Crypto.com Arena

The Kings rolled out a forward group built on size and speed: Malott–Laferriere–Kempe, Foegele–Byfield–Armia, Fiala–Turcotte–Kuzmenko, and Lee–Helenius–Ward. On the blue line, it was Anderson–Doughty, Edmundson–Clarke, and Dumoulin–Ceci, with Kuemper getting the crease. It’s a veteran-heavy spine and, on paper, a group that should protect leads better than it has during this recent wobble.

Anaheim’s answer was energy and layers. The Ducks used their pace to draw calls and stretch LA’s shape. They leaned on a maturing core that includes Sennecke and McTavish and got timely finishing from depth in Washe. It’s the type of team effort that travels well in a rivalry building.

“Kings need cleaner exits and more bite around the net — too many chances bled away late.”

Standings pressure and what comes next

This game opened a back-to-back, home-and-home set, with the puck dropping at 7:40 PM PT in LA and the return to follow. The Kings arrived tied with the Sharks for the West’s second wild-card spot and two points behind the Kraken. The Ducks began two points behind LA and remain two back after the shootout split in points.

Even with the points shared, Anaheim can feel the lift. The Ducks move to 22-21-3 (47 points). The Kings sit at 19-16-11 (49 points). Trend lines matter, too: Anaheim has been building since that win over Dallas, while LA is trying to halt a slide before it becomes a rut.

The team profiles tell you where each side wants the game played. The Ducks’ season averages (3.19 goals for, 3.62 goals against) say they live in higher-scoring, swingy games. The Kings’ averages (2.54 GF, 2.68 GA) reflect a tight-checking, low-risk identity. Friday skewed toward Anaheim’s preference once the pace quickened, and when the game moved to the shootout, the Ducks’ skill took over.

Broadcast notes and the bigger picture

Fans caught the drama on FanDuel Sports Network and ESPN LA 710 AM, and they got a good one. Crypto.com Arena had playoff buzz to it. For the Ducks, this was proof their young core can manage that noise and still execute. For the Kings, it was another reminder that small lapses can cost big points.

Now comes the quick reset. With the back half of the home-and-home next, the adjustments are simple but crucial. LA needs more clean zone exits and heavier traffic on the Anaheim net. The Ducks will want repeat energy, clean discipline, and the same swagger they showed in the shootout. If they bring that again, the standings gap could close in a hurry.

Bottom line: a rivalry game asked hard questions. Anaheim had the best answers when it mattered most.