SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RIVALS MEET AS DUCKS VISIT KINGS LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The Anaheim Ducks will look to solidify their playoff positioning while the Los Angeles Kings seek to reverse a downward trend when the Southern California rivals meet Saturday at Crypto.com Arena. The Ducks (21-16-0) enter the matchup with a six-point standings advantage over the Kings (15-21-0) in the Pacific Division. Anaheim has won three of its last five games, though it is coming off a 3-1 home loss to Seattle on Monday. Los Angeles has lost four of its last five, including a 3-2 defeat to those same Kraken on Tuesday. A key player to watch for Anaheim is center Mikael Granlund, who has been a consistent offensive catalyst. He has points in three of his last four games, including a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over Columbus on Dec. 20 and a goal in the recent loss to Seattle. For the Kings, winger Kevin Fiala remains a primary scoring threat. He found the net in the team’s most recent game and has recorded four points (two goals, two assists) over his last seven contests. The most recent head-to-head meeting was a high-scoring affair, with Anaheim edging Los Angeles 5-4 in a shootout on Nov. 28. The Ducks have shown a potent offense lately, scoring four or more goals in four of their last ten outings. The Kings, meanwhile, have struggled to generate consistent offense, being held to two goals or fewer in seven of their last ten games. This contest opens a critical home-and-home sequence between the clubs, who will meet again in Los Angeles on Jan. 16 and in Anaheim on Jan. 17. For the Kings, a victory is crucial to gain ground before a difficult upcoming road trip through Colorado and Western Canada. The Ducks aim to start a busy stretch of six games in ten days on a positive note. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.