"The fourth game between the Ducks and Kings this season ensured their fifth and sixth meetings will be paramount. Corey Perry's rocket past the glove of Jonathan Quick in overtime Saturday gave the Ducks a 2-1 win and pulled them within three points of the Kings and one point out of the final Western Conference playoff spot. The Ducks can't get too far ahead of themselves - the Calgary Flames visit Honda Center today - but they understand the growing importance of the home-and-home series with the Kings on the final weekend of the regular season. Perry said both teams' playoff fate will come down to that weekend a scant three weeks from now. "That's what it's shaping up to be, anyway," he added. "It's going to be fun. It's going to be interesting. We're looking forward to it." So are both teams' fan bases, which combined to pack a capacity crowd of 18,118 into Staples Center for a game worthy of the intensifying rivalry. "I feel like ever since I came here, there's always been a playoff-like atmosphere every time we've played them, no matter what time of the year it was," Quick said on lakingsinsider.com. "It's fun hockey to play but unfortunately it's not the outcome we wanted." Perry's 37th goal of the season, which leads his team and ranks third in the NHL, capped a Ducks comeback of sorts at 1:32 of overtime. A breakaway goal by Brandon McMillan gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the first period. Dustin Brown tied it in the third period, during which the Kings (40-26-6, 86 points) led the shot count 11-6 and had the Ducks (39-27-5, 83 points) on their heels. On this night, Ray Emery was the difference. In his second consecutive start - his only two starts in the NHL this season - the veteran goalie was instrumental in helping the Ducks kill six power plays while finishing with 31 saves. "It's a different situation for myself having not played the start of the year," said Emery, who was signed by the Ducks in February after missing most of the season following hip surgery. "I'm happy to get the opportunity when I do and I want to make the most of it." McMillan's goal at 15:24 of the first period ended his streak of seven games without a goal dating back to Feb. 27. The rookie created his own scoring opportunity by winning a neutral-zone faceoff at one end of the ice, then beating Kings defenseman Jack Johnson to a loose puck at the other end. McMillan drove to the net with the puck and made a late move to elude a poke-check by Quick." Read more: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_17656649
