It’s more than just another Black Friday sale — it’s a battle for bragging rights in Southern California. This afternoon, the Anaheim Ducks (14-8-1) wrap up their six-game homestand by facing off against their long-time rivals, the Los Angeles Kings (11-6-6), at Honda Center. The puck drops at 1 p.m. PT, with coverage available on Victory+ and FOX 11.
For nearly two decades, the Ducks have made Black Friday hockey a cherished Orange County tradition. Their all-time Black Friday record stands at 11-11-5, and for the third consecutive season, Anaheim will take on the Kings in this post-Thanksgiving clash. In fact, this marks the team’s 21st consecutive Black Friday appearance at home — a streak that dates back to the 2002-03 season, interrupted only by the 2020-21 pandemic year and two league lockouts (2012-13 and 2004-05).
And here’s where things get especially tense: the Pacific Division standings are razor-thin. Anaheim clings to first place with 29 points, but the Kings sit just one point behind — tied with both the Golden Knights and the Kraken. Every shift, every goal, and every penalty could dramatically reshape the division table by the end of the day.
Anaheim enters the matchup licking its wounds after a frustrating 5-4 loss to Vancouver on Wednesday. The Ducks quickly found themselves trailing 2-0 — the third straight game in which they’ve conceded the opening goal. After that defeat, head coach Joel Quenneville spoke candidly about the team’s need to start stronger.
“We’ll look at what’s slowing us down early and fix it,” Quenneville said. “This group is ready. The energy in the building is fantastic. That’s what we want. But in this league, digging yourself out of an early deficit makes life tough.”
Defenseman Jackson LaCombe echoed that sentiment, pointing out both positives and problem areas from the team’s recent performance. “Offensively, we’re in a good rhythm,” LaCombe said. “We moved the puck well and got plenty of shots on goal. Now we just need to tighten things up in our defensive zone and stay connected as a group.”
Meanwhile, the Kings arrive in Anaheim with some momentum, having edged the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in their most recent outing. All the scoring came in the third period, capped by Brandt Clarke’s power-play goal that snapped LA’s three-game slump.
Quenneville made it clear that he expects a gritty, hard-fought contest against one of the conference’s most disciplined teams. “They’re structured, defensively sound, and make it tough to find space,” he explained. “We know what to expect — it’s going to take effort and smart hockey to get through them.”
As for key players to watch, Adrian Kempe continues to drive LA’s offense with 20 points (seven goals and 13 assists), while Kevin Fiala leads the Kings in goals with nine.
The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the rivalry couldn’t be hotter. Will the Ducks defend their top spot, or will the Kings crash the Black Friday party? Fans, how do you see this matchup unfolding? Is Anaheim still the team to beat, or are the Kings quietly building steam beneath the radar? Drop your predictions and hot takes in the comments — this one’s bound to spark some debate.
