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Adrian Kempe (9) of the Los Angeles Kings prepares to take a shot to score a goal in the second period past Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson (36) in a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, congratulates right wing Adrian Kempe on his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Jacob Larsson (32) of the Anaheim Ducks blocks out Gabriel Vilardi (13) as Jeff Carter (77) of the Los Angeles Kings gets control of the puck in a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The Anaheim Ducks celebrate after Sam Steel (23) scored a goal against the Los Angeles Kings in a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Goalie Troy Grosenick (1) of the Los Angeles Kings keeps an eye on the puck as Vinni Lettieri (40) of the Anaheim Ducks makes a run at the goal during the first period in a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Kings goaltender Troy Grosenick stands in goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Goalie John Gibson (36) of the Anaheim Ducks blocks a shot by Anze Kopitar (11) of the Los Angeles Kings in the second period in a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Goalie John Gibson (36) of the Anaheim Ducks deflects the puck as Dustin Brown (23) of the Los Angeles Kings attempts to score in a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson stands in goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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The Ducks’ Isac Lundestrom gets past the Kings’ Trevor Moore (12) and Matt Roy (3) as he bears down on Kings goaltender Troy Grosenick during Wednesday night’s game at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Anze Kopitar (11) of the Los Angeles Kings watches as his shot goes over goalie John Gibson (36) of the Anaheim Ducks for a score in the second period of a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Los Angeles Kings defenseman Kurtis MacDermid, right, stops the puck with his hand as Anaheim Ducks center Sam Steel reaches in during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown, left, and Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Comtois vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown, left, tries to get a shot past Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, right, as defenseman Cam Fowler helps defend during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks right wing Jakob Silfverberg, left, reaches for the puck as Los Angeles Kings center Michael Amadio takes it during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks left wing Max Jones, left, and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, right, scores on Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, left, as center Isac Lundestrom defends during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, center, celebrates his goal with center Trevor Moore, left, and defenseman Drew Doughty during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson stands in goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, left, passes the puck while under pressure from Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Kings goaltender Troy Grosenick lays on the ice after being scored on by Anaheim Ducks center Sam Steel during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks left wing Nicolas Deslauriers, left, tries to get the puck past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Troy Grosenick during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Kings left wing Andreas Athanasiou, left, falls as Anaheim Ducks defenseman Ben Hutton takes the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf, left, and Los Angeles Kings center Blake Lizotte battle for the puck on a face-off during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Kings center Trevor Moore, left, and Ducks center Isac Lundestrom battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks left wing Nicolas Deslauriers, left, and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe, left, tries to get a shot past Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Iafallo, left, battles for the puck with Anaheim Ducks center Derek Grant during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Kings defenseman Drew Doughty smiles after right wing Alex Iafallo scored during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson stands in goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Anaheim Ducks defenseman Josh Mahura, left, shoots the puck as Los Angeles Kings left wing Austin Wagner, right, watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Los Angeles Kings goaltender Troy Grosenick stands in goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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Kings goalie Troy Grosenick does a little dance at the end of their 5-1 victory over the Ducks as teammate Adrian Kempe moves in to congratulate him on Wednesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Goalie Troy Grosenick (1) of the Los Angeles Kings is congratulated by teammates Adrian Kempe (9) and Kurtis MacDermid (56) at the end of the game after they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in a game at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Kings goaltender Troy Grosenick, center, and right wing Adrian Kempe, right, congratulate each other as defenseman Drew Doughty watches after the Kings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. The Kings won 5-1. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
ANAHEIM — As long as the Kings had Adrian Kempe skating on the Honda Center ice on Wednesday night, anything seemed possible. They could even stick a guy in goal who hadn’t played in the NHL in nearly 6½ years and had been waived twice this season and still win the game.
Fresh off his second career hat trick Monday, Kempe scored twice more in the Kings’ 5-1 rout of the Ducks on Wednesday, giving Troy Grosenick his first victory since his NHL debut Nov. 16, 2014. Kempe’s power-play goal in the opening minutes set an early tone.
Grosenick made 33 saves to improve his career record to 2-1-0.
“Billy said at the morning skate, ‘Hey, this is what we planned for, this is what we talked about,’” Grosenick said of a pregame pep talk with goaltending coach Bill Ranford. “That’s all that needed to be said. As far as preparation and finding out late, I don’t think it matters much for me.
“Same old thing. Take the next shot as it comes, take the next day as it comes. If you’re prepared for anything, things don’t take you by surprise as much, I suppose.”
Kings goalie Cal Petersen was ruled out after being placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 list earlier in the day. Jonathan Quick couldn’t play because of an injury. So, the Kings turned to Grosenick to start and recalled Matt Villalta from the Ontario Reign of the AHL to serve as his backup.
Advantage, Ducks?
Grosenick had appeared in a grand total of two NHL games before he was pressed into service, a pair of starts for the San Jose Sharks in 2014-15. He won one, shutting out the Carolina Hurricanes on 45 shots, and lost one, making 10 saves against the Buffalo Sabres.
The 31-year-old Grosenick spent the next five seasons in the AHL, playing 183 games with the San Jose Barracuda and the Milwaukee Admirals. The Kings signed him as a free agent in October, then waived him. The Edmonton Oilers claimed him, then waived him.
The Kings claimed him again.
Advantage, Kings?
“He did fine,” Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler said of Grosenick. “You don’t want to take anything away from him, but I don’t think we made it nearly as difficult on him as we could have. It didn’t feel like there were lots of opportunities with lots of bodies in front.”
A 1-0 lead and a couple of fortunate bounces eased Grosenick’s burden in the opening minutes. With the Ducks on a power play, Vinni Lettieri hammered a shot from the wing past Grosenick and off the crossbar. Moments later, Max Comtois beat him, too, but hit the goal post.
The Ducks said they were concerned about the Kings’ power play after giving up a pair of man-advantage goals in a 6-5 shootout victory Monday. Apparently, they weren’t concerned enough to stay out of the penalty box, though, and they paid the price for their undisciplined play.
Kempe scored the first of his two goals only 3:46 into the game, a power-play strike that gave the Kings their first lead over the Ducks in three games. It was as if the puck was following him after Ducks defenseman Jani Hakanpaa blocked a perimeter shot and fired a clearing pass to the wing.
The puck landed on Kempe’s stick and he one-timed it past a helpless John Gibson.
Anze Kopitar extended the Kings’ lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 5:20 of the second.
Sam Steel countered for the Ducks 19 seconds later, cutting it to 2-1.
Kempe restored the Kings’ two-goal lead at 17:55 of the second with his fifth goal in five periods, converting on a pass from the wing from Trevor Moore after a Ducks turnover at their own blue line. The goal came against the run of the play, with the Ducks buzzing at the other end.
Grosenick blanked the Ducks the rest of the way in only his third game of 2020-21, including two appearances with the Reign earlier this season. He was 0-1-1 with Ontario with a lofty 4.92 goals-against average and a less-than-stellar .848 save percentage.
“The guys played hard for him,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “I think it was a motivating factor to get off to a good start. It was good to see and certainly not easy circumstances with as little as he’s played this year. Good for him.”
The Kings’ Andreas Athanasiou made it 4-1 only 1:27 into the third period.
Hakanpaa then accidentally tapped Alex Iafallo’s centering pass behind Gibson for a 5-1 lead for the Kings at 13:57. Gibson was visibly upset, shedding his customary calm demeanor as he skated from his crease and tried to compose himself for the remainder of the game.
Later, Eakins said he didn’t blame Gibson for getting angry.
“This is an emotional game,” Eakins said. “We certainly don’t expect all of our players to be robotic and show no emotion. We talk about thinking neutrally and staying in the moment, but that doesn’t mean you have to turn off your emotions. ‘Gibby’ had every right to feel hung out to dry.”
Troy Grosenick recorded just his second NHL win and first since Nov. 16, 2014 (2-0 W at CAR). The six years and 112 days between regular-season wins was the seventh-longest such gap by a goaltender in NHL history. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/Rqs9y28k6e
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 11, 2021
Five goals in his last three games for @adriankempe.
: https://t.co/uX2qpU5ek7 @NHLonNBCSports #WNH pic.twitter.com/cJYxmyjjBR
— NHL (@NHL) March 11, 2021
: ANOTHER for @adriankempe.
— NHL (@NHL) March 11, 2021
GOOSE ON THE MIC
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 11, 2021
“You have to have a short memory but at the same time I think all of us have to take a look in the mirror tonight and think about what we did.”#FlyTogether I @AnaheimDucks I #FreewayFaceoff I @AlysonLozoff pic.twitter.com/W1ETkrBZYO
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 11, 2021
A pleased Todd McLellan addresses the media after the W
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 11, 2021
HOW BOUT THIS GUY TONIGHT
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 11, 2021
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