Mikael Granlund’s late OT goal lifts Ducks over Kings (Image via: Getty Images) The Anaheim Ducks are starting to look like a team that has steadied itself after weeks of turbulence. Saturday night at Honda Center offered another sign of progress, as Anaheim found a way to close out a tight, playoff-style game against a familiar rival. The result mattered, but the manner of the win carried even more weight.Against the Los Angeles Kings, the Ducks leaned on structure, patience, and timely execution. That formula paid off late in overtime, extending a momentum-building stretch that has quietly reshaped their season outlook.
Anaheim Ducks’ patience pays off as Mikael Granlund delivers in overtime
Mikael Granlund delivered the decisive moment with 57.4 seconds remaining in overtime, scoring on a wrist shot from the right circle to lift the Ducks to a 2-1 win. The goal was Granlund’s ninth of the season and came off a controlled 3-on-1 rush where Anaheim resisted forcing a pass and let the play develop.The sequence began with an understated but critical effort from Beckett Sennecke. After disrupting Kevin Fiala on a Kings breakaway by lifting his stick, Sennecke sent the puck back toward the blue line, denying Adrian Kempe a follow-up chance. He then sprinted back into the play, drawing coverage from Anton Forsberg and Drew Doughty, which opened the shooting lane Granlund needed.That attention to detail has defined Anaheim’s recent turnaround. Mason McTavish opened the scoring early in the first period after a neutral-zone turnover, snapping a wrist shot past Forsberg from the left circle. Kempe tied the game midway through the second on a 5-on-3 power play, ending his six-game goal drought with his 16th of the season.From there, the game tightened. Ville Husso stopped 17 shots, while Forsberg turned aside 31 in a losing effort. Special teams proved uneven for both sides, with Los Angeles going 1-for-6 on the power play and Anaheim failing to convert on three opportunities. Still, the Ducks’ defensive structure held, limiting second chances and keeping rebounds manageable.The win marked Anaheim’s third straight after a nine-game winless skid, during which defensive breakdowns repeatedly cost them points. In contrast, the Ducks have allowed just four goals across their last three games, a sharp correction that reflects improved predictability and consistent effort, as noted by coach Joel Quenneville.For the Kings, the loss reinforced a troubling pattern. Los Angeles fell to 12-5-13 in one-goal games and remains among the league’s lowest in regulation wins. Despite strong goaltending and extended power-play time, execution remained inconsistent when the game was there to be taken.Anaheim, meanwhile, continues to show signs of a team learning how to close games the right way. The margin was thin, but the process was solid, and that distinction is becoming increasingly important.