LA Kings dominate cross town rival Anaheim Ducks with Laferriere netting first hat trick-Dec 2025

A Statement Win in the Freeway Face-Off
The Los Angeles Kings returned from the holiday break with a vengeance, crushing the Anaheim Ducks 6–1 in a performance that had Crypto.com Arena buzzing from puck drop to final horn. After a frustrating stretch where goals were hard to come by, LA exploded early and never looked back.

Alex Laferriere: Hat Trick Hero
Right winger Alex Laferriere was unstoppable, netting his first career NHL hat trick in spectacular fashion. His trio of goals — including a blistering one-timer, a slick backhand breakaway, and a hard-wired high-slot finish — ignited the Kings’ offense and put the Ducks on their heels all night.

Blistering First Period Sets the Tone
Los Angeles came out with unbelievable energy, piling on four goals in the opening frame:

• Drew Doughty opened the scoring off a beautiful rush play.
• Trevor Moore followed just 53 seconds later.
• Laferriere made it 3–0 with a one-timer after a slick Kempe setup.
• Quinton Byfield capped the period with a power-play goal, redirecting Brandt Clarke’s blast through traffic.

By the first intermission, the Kings had built a commanding 4–0 lead, sending a message that they were locked in from the opening shift.

Goaltending and Depth Contributions
With starter Cam Kemper sidelined due to injury, backup goalie Anton Forsberg came up huge, stopping 24 shotsand keeping LA firmly in control between the pipes.

Forward play was balanced and dynamic — Anze Kopitar racked up three assists, setting up all three of Laferriere’s goals, while Byfield’s goal and helper added to the offensive barrage.

Ducks Scratch Back a Goal
Anaheim’s only goal came mid-second period on a Mason McTavish power-play strike, but it was merely a footnote as the Kings continued to dominate possession and pace.

The Finish
Laferriere sealed the night with his third goal in the third period, and the Kings finished with a memorable 6–1 victory— the kind of result that boosts confidence and energizes a team looking to climb in the standings.

Official Recap & More Info
Check out the full game recap on the LA Kings website for quotes, post-game insights, and detailed stats:
LA Kings: RECAP: Kings 6, Ducks 1, 12/27 — www.LAKings.com