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Ryan Kesler is a thorn in the side of his opponents every single time he takes the ice, and that is exactly why the Anaheim Ducks traded for him last summer. Kesler’s keen two-way game, in addition to his playoff experience, made him the prime candidate to help the Ducks get over the hump against their Southern California rival, Los Angeles Kings, and shift the balance of power in the Western Conference. By scoring in overtime after playing a strong, physical game against the Kings Wednesday night on national TV, Kesler showed why the Ducks gave a up a king’s ransom — full pun intended — to land him.
The Kings and Ducks have played five times this season, with all but one game being decided beyond regulation; that’s how close these two teams are despite the distance between them in the standings. Kesler’s presence has been a big reason why. I wrote about just that after the Ducks narrowly defeated the Kings in November, and four months later that narrative has yet to change. The way Kesler has been an irritant to the Kings going back to his days with the Vancouver Canucks is a big reason why the Ducks feel they can beat the Kings if the two teams meet in the playoffs like they did last season.
Right now a first-round matchup between the team from Hollywood and the team from Orange County is a realistic possibility if the Kings slip to the final Wild Card spot. If that’s the case, then look for Kesler to continue what he’s been doing and fulfill the mission he was given when the Ducks brought him in — get the team past L.A.
