LOS ANGELES — Lukas Dostal delivered a standout performance with 43 saves, leading the Anaheim Ducks to a thrilling 2-1 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night. This win marked the Ducks’ sixth victory in their last seven outings, showcasing their momentum heading into a two-week international break — their best run since November 2023.

Brian Dumoulin contributed significantly by scoring his first goal of the season early in the third period, which was crucial for the Ducks. In contrast, the Kings experienced a setback as Adrian Kempe managed to net the equalizer just 2:39 before the end of regulation. Goalie David Rittich stopped 24 shots for Los Angeles, which saw its three-game winning streak come to an end, marking their first loss to the Ducks in three matchups this season.

The highly anticipated Freeway Faceoff started off slow with two unremarkable periods until Dumoulin finally broke the ice in what was his 54th game with the Ducks, skillfully walking in from the point to score against Rittich.

Kings goalie Darcy Kuemper was absent from the match due to personal matters, which compelled Rittich to take the net again after his victory over Dallas the night before. Meanwhile, Ducks captain Radko Gudas did not participate due to illness.

**Takeaways**

For the Ducks, despite being recognized as the NHL’s least productive scoring team, Dostal’s exceptional performance almost earned him a third career shutout. The Kings, although playing strong defensive hockey, faltered offensively, failing to capitalize despite a hefty shot count. This game was a stark contrast to their previous three, in which they had scored 14 goals.

**Key Moment**

The Kings were edging closer to a potential third shutout loss in six games when Phillip Danault made a critical play, sending a pass from the boards to a speeding Kempe. This setup allowed Kempe to shoot a backhand that struck Dostal in the chest and fortuitously trickled in, marking Kempe’s 25th goal of the season and achieving the milestone for the fourth consecutive year.

**Key Stat**

Trevor Lewis had an impressive outing with four shots on goal after the Kings held a pregame celebration acknowledging his recent achievement of playing in his 1,000th NHL game.

**Up Next**

As the NHL enters its two-week break, the Ducks are set to visit Boston, while the Kings will host Utah on February 22.