Ducks counting on the Ryan Kesler effect against the Kings

Wherever Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle has been in his coaching career, Ryan Kesler has literally been a center of his attention.

Carlyle first coached Kesler for minor league Manitoba Moose. Later, in his first turn with the Ducks and as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carlyle tried to get Kesler away from his top centers. To put it plainly, perhaps no other coach appreciates how Kesler becomes magnified against the Kings, usually anchored down the middle with Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter.

“His value gets increased [against] the opposition if it’s a Kopitar or a Carter,” Carlyle said. “As a coach you feel comfortable playing him against those players. And then in big games, Kes has a way to step up to the next level. He always seems to have a little bit more to give you.”

Kesler has given more in November with seven goals, in addition to his usual two-way prowess and faceoff skill. That combination becomes front and center in the latest Ducks-Kings matchup Sunday at Honda Center.

The injured Kopitar did not play Saturday and Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said he will talk to Kopitar before Sunday’s game. If he does play, Carlyle can put Kesler out against Kopitar or Carter and also has Ryan Getzlaf to counter.

The Kesler effect ripples the rivalry: He has eight goals and 12 points in 11 games against the Kings since he arrived in Anaheim in 2014, and the Ducks are 8-2-1 against the Kings in that span.

Not included in those statistics are the little-known plays around the net, the stick lifts and the body bumps. There is also the under-the-skin art that makes Kesler stand out.

Kings goalie Jeff Zatkoff never crossed hockey paths with fellow Michigan native Kesler growing up, but he is long familiar with him.

“I think that’s what makes him such a special player. Night in, night out he brings that same intensity and he plays against top lines night after night and he plays with a chip on his shoulder,” Zatkoff said.

Carlyle said Kesler’s production — five of his goals are on the power play — isn’t necessarily a reprise of Kesler’s 2010-11 season in which he scored 15 power-play goals for the Vancouver Canucks. That’s because Kesler might not have been the net magnet that he is here.

“It’s where goals are scored now and you’ve got to get to that area and out-battle people and it’s just happening for me this year,” Kesler said.

Always one to embrace the villain role, Kesler perked up when he talked about Ducks against Kings.

“It’s probably one of the best rivalries I’ve ever played in, and it’s going to be another intense one,” he said.

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this report

DUCKS NEXT UP VS. KINGS

When: 5 p.m.

On the air: TV: FS West, Prime; Radio: 830, 790

Update: The Ducks recalled forward Ondrej Kase in place of Joseph Cramarossa, who is day to day because of a lower-body injury. Ducks defensemen Clayton Stoner (lower body) and Kevin Bieksa (illness) did not practice. Stoner will be reevaluated Sunday and Bieksa is expected to be available, Carlyle said.

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