What we learned from Ducks’ 4-2 win over the Kings

Like a greyhound chasing the rabbit on the track, the Ducks are inching toward the Kings in the Pacific Division.

A 4-2 win Sunday brought the Ducks to two points behind the first-place Kings. The Ducks are 22-4-2 since Christmas and 15-1-1 in their last 17 games, while the Kings’ five-game point streak came to a grinding halt.

Here’s what we learned:

There is no end in sight for this Ducks’ run

Anaheim is two wins shy of its franchise-record 10-game streak from December of 2013. Its power play is 17-for-57 in the last 15 games, and it has held opponents to a team-record 142 goals through 61 games.

To think, the Ducks were 16 points behind the Kings on Jan. 12.

“We trusted this team,” Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen said. “We knew when we get everybody buying in and doing things, and we get a couple of bounces, it will turn around and we will have the success that we have right now.”

The Kings are showing signs of wear

They were an NHL-best 8-0-1 in the second game of a back-to-back set before Sunday. Kings Coach Darryl Sutter cites the schedule frequently as a factor, and he brought it up again after the game.

“We made some tired mistakes,” Sutter said. “I think guys looked a little gassed ... it’s going to happen when you get caught in a turnaround against a good team like that.”

The Ducks are 10-1-2 against the Kings in the regular season since the 2013-14 season. Of course, the Kings eliminated the Ducks in seven games in the 2014 conference semifinals.

Said Anze Kopitar, “Our game overall has to be better if we want to beat this team.”

Ryan Kesler is fine

Kesler threw a scare into all in attendance when he was struck by Jake Muzzin’s slap shot in the final seconds and lay prone for about a minute before he got up off the ice.

“He’s sore, obviously,” Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau said. “The puck hit him in the upper region. But he’s a tough competitor and he’s going to be fine.”