Ducks center Mikael Granlund, center, celebrates his game-winning goal along with defenseman Jackson LaCombe, left, and center Mason McTavish in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Kings, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ducks center Mikael Granlund, right, celebrates his game-winning goal along with defenseman Jackson LaCombe, center, and center Mason McTavish in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Kings, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ducks center Mason McTavish, right celeb rates his goal as Kings defenseman Drew Doughty skates by during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba complains to a referee after being called for a slashing penalty during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Kings, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kings left wing Warren Foegele, center, falls over Ducks goaltender Ville Husso, left, as defenseman Olen Zellweger takes the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg, left, stops a shot as Ducks left wing Cutter Gauthier, second from right, jumps out of the way and defenseman Cody Ceci defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ducks left wing Jeffrey Viel, left, and Kings center Samuel Helenius fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ducks center Ryan Poehling, left, falls as Kings right wing Adrian Kempe takes the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ducks center Ryan Poehling, left, falls as Kings right wing Adrian Kempe takes the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Linesman Trent Knorr, right, jumps out of the way of the puck as as Ducks center Mikael Granlund, left, and right wing Alex Laferriere face off during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Ducks center Mikael Granlund, center, celebrates his game-winning goal along with defenseman Jackson LaCombe, left, and center Mason McTavish in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Kings, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
ANAHEIM — The Ducks took consecutive games and the season series from the Kings, triumphing 2-1 in overtime at Honda Center on Saturday night, less than 24 hours after knocking off their archenemies in Downtown L.A.
Three of the four crosstown clashes went beyond 60 minutes this season, including both bouts this weekend, and all three went to the Ducks. The rivals now sit in a points tie with each other, with 51 apiece.
The Ducks won their third straight match to further distance themselves from a putrid stretch that included just two victories in 15 opportunities. They have ceded just four goals in those three outings, after giving up five per game during a nine-game skid.
“We knew it was going to be a big weekend for us, and we came through,” Mikael Granlund said. “We’re playing the right way right now, and that gives us a chance to win these games.”
He added: “We’re not giving anything easy, no self-inflicted stuff.”
The Kings lost for the sixth time in seven games as part of their longer-standing malaise, prevailing in just seven of their past 23 decisions. They now have both the most overtime losses and most one-goal losses in the NHL this season.
Mason McTavish scored in regulation and Granlund snagged a second point in overtime. Ville Husso stopped 17 shots. Chris Kreider missed a second straight game due to an illness against the backdrop of the longer-term absences of Leo Carlsson (thigh surgery), Frank Vatrano (broken shoulder) and Troy Terry (upper-body injury).
Adrian Kempe scored the Kings’ lone goal during a 5-on-3 power play. Anton Forsberg made 31 saves. The Kings iced their same 18 skaters from a night earlier at Crypto.com Arena, where they lost 3-2 in a shootout, meaning they again had no Anže Kopitar, Corey Perry or Trevor Moore.
The Ducks carried their territorial and analytical edges into the third period, but neither team was able to break the tie, sending the game to overtime.
A mere 25 seconds into the extra frame, Drew Doughty hooked Granlund, setting up a 4-on-3 look for the Ducks.
The Kings’ penalty killers delivered, thanks in large part to Forsberg stonewalling McTavish and Beckett Sennecke in succession.
That merely delayed the inevitable, however. Sennecke’s brilliant backcheck during Kevin Fiala’s partial breakaway saw him lift Fiala’s stick, steal the puck and initiate a counterattack, one he joined. Granlund elected to shoot, rifling in the game-winner with 58 seconds on the OT clock. Sennecke now has a five-game points streak.
“It was a great play by (Sennecke), that’s the effort we need. At the same time, we weren’t even close to getting to overtime in the last few weeks,” Granlund said. “We’re giving ourselves a chance to win these games and getting in positions to be able to win these games, that’s what I mean by playing right.”
In the absence of Carlsson, McTavish and Granlund have had to shoulder a bigger load, accounting for both the Ducks’ goals on Saturday. Granlund played a team-high 24:32 and drew two penalties before sending the fans home happy.
“He’s unreal, so skilled and so poised with the puck, too. He makes the right play pretty much every time. Obviously, it was a sick shot there, too,” McTavish said. “Penalty kill, power play, five-on-five, he does it all, and he was awesome today.”
A penalty-riddled second period concluded with a 1-1 intermission deadlock and the Ducks having been whistled for six penalties resulting in power plays. The Kings received no admonishment whatsoever until the final two minutes of the frame, when the Ducks failed to convert.
Five of those Ducks infractions came in the second stanza, including two just six seconds apart to set up substantial two-man-advantage time for the Kings. Andrei Kuzmenko worked the puck to Fiala atop the left circle. He strode ahead and zipped the puck to the right dot for Kempe, who glided into the pass and loaded up a shot in one motion.
It was Kempe’s 16th goal and his first in seven games. The Kings scored during the 5-on-3 situation but moved to none for their past nine at 5-on-4.
“They kept taking penalties and kept giving us another chance to redeem ourselves,” Brandt Clarke said. “It just didn’t seem fluid and it didn’t seem like we were getting pucks to the net.”
The same player who ended the shootout on Friday began the scoring on Saturday, as McTavish tallied his 12th goal, 6:11 into the affair. Ryan Strome found Olen Zellweger at the blue line, where he shook Joel Armia and slipped the puck to McTavish. A stumbling Mikey Anderson watched as McTavish flicked a shot far side past Forsberg.
Since Christmas, Anderson and Doughty’s ineffectiveness as a top pairing has been apparent. In that span, the Kings have been outscored 19-6 with Anderson on the ice and 20-7 with Doughty over the boards. Doughty’s goal in the first game after the holiday break is the only point they have produced in a combined 24 games.
Later in the period, Jeffrey Viel, who made his Ducks debut after being acquired from Boston on Friday, fought the towering Samuel Helenius.
“I’m always down [to fight],” Viel said. “You could feel the intensity out there. It was great to get the win, especially against a divisional opponent.”
Next up, both clubs will host the New York Rangers. The Ducks, who have four former Rangers on their roster, will welcome them Monday. The Kings will face former chums and current Blueshirts Jonathan Quick and Vladlislav Gavrikov on Tuesday.