Kings beat Southern California rivals Ducks despite losing goalie

Starting goaltender Pheonix Copley stopped 16 of 17 shots before he was ejected with 23.3 seconds remaining in the second period but Los Angeles Kings defeated their Southern California rivals Anaheim Ducks 6-3 on Friday night.

Ducks didn't want the smoke.#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/9B2QCq83cQ

— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 18, 2023

Copley, the Kings’ unlikely No. 1 goalie, got a match penalty for punching with his blocker during a big brawl. He also skated out to accept John Gibson’s invitation for a center-ice goalie fight, but linesmen intervened first.

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Viktor Arvidsson scored two goals, including his 16th of the season, Kevin Fiala collected his 19th of the season with an empty-netter and added two assists, and Adrian Kempe scored his eighth goal in four games.

Captain Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist for the Kings. Blake Lizotte also scored and Jonathan Quick made eight saves after relieving Copley for the Kings, who have won three straight and six of eight.

Gibson stopped 35 shots and Kevin Shattenkirk scored goals in back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two years for the last-place Ducks.

Mason McTavish and Frank Vatrano scored in the third period for Anaheim, which has yielded 26 goals during a four-game losing streak following a two-week stretch of solid play.

The Southern California rivals separated by 30 miles of traffic engaged in a heated brawl in the final minute of the second period, leading to Copley’s match penalty for whaling on Vatrano during the scrum.