Rivalry Budding for Ducks, Kings

Mighty Duck Coach Ron Wilson figured the Kings and Ducks couldn’t have a rivalry until the teams had at least met.

Now they’ve met. And though it’s a bit soon for hatred, the teams have a keen mutual awareness after the Kings--playing without Wayne Gretzky or Luc Robitaille--took a 3-2 overtime victory in Wednesday’s exhibition game.

“They just don’t quit, just like San Jose,” King defenseman Rob Blake said. “(Coach Barry Melrose) came in and said we learned a lesson--you’ve got to respect your opponent. Obviously we’ve learned that early about them.”

The Ducks came billed as a physical team, and the Kings responded in kind.

“It was a mutual thing,” said King left wing Warren Rychel, who fought Todd Ewen 62 seconds into the game. “That’s the way they played last time, so we expected it.”

The Kings will play the Ducks six times this season.

Notes

The team took its first day off Thursday since the opening of training camp . . . San Bernardino radio station KCKC 1350 has agreed to broadcast 42 games, including 32 that will be broadcast on flagship station KEZY 95.9 and 10 of the 52 on the other flagship, KLAC 570.