Sunday, the L.A. Kings joined an exclusive club. Well, exclusive to this season anyway. After outworking the Ducks by putting pucks on goal and grinding out a victory, the Kings joined Calgary and Philadelphia as the only clubs to hand the Ducks a loss in regulation.

The past three games against the Ducks, which were all losses, the Kings averaged close to 40 shots a game; 44, 31, 41 shots respectively, against Anaheim this season. Sunday night was no exception, as L.A. pounded backup goaltendter Ilya Bryzgalov with 41 shots. Also, the power play continues to click, with L.A. currently eighth in the league in power play percentage. They are also at third overall for power play goals this season.

One of the hottest Kings right now is Lubomir Visnovsky. He has 11 points in his last 9 games, and is tied for fifth among defensemen in the league with 21 points. He also has a 4-game point streak coming into tonight. Dan Cloutier, starting in place of the injured Mathieu Garon, gets his thrid start in a row.

With play underway, Sean Avery crashes the goal, in hopes of trying for a loose puck or a deflection. He was met by Samuel Pahlsson, who throttled Avery from behind by his neck. Then Sean O'Donnell cupped Avery's face, until the whistle blew. O'Donnell continues to palm Sean's face after the whistle, then pushed him back. It was apparent that Anaheim was looking to exact some revenge against the Kings' winger and NHL's Most Hated Man.

Scott Thornton was called from interference, as the league's second best power play unit goes against the 23rd ranked penalty kill of the Kings. Midway through the PK, Sean Avery knocks Scott Niedermayer on his back, and he goes flying like he got hammered with a steel chair. In retaliation, Niedermayer gets up and plows Avery, going for his head. He then gives him a little extra help to stay on the ice. Avery gets up, and takes the puck as time expires on the penalty, then levels Niedermayer near the penalty boxes, and it looks as if they are getting ready for a long day.

Peter Harrold gets two minutes for hooking, as the Kings go right back on the PK. Selanne had a solid shot on goal, but was robbed by Cloutier, snapping the puck out of mid-air with authority. Ryan Getzlaf finally scored on the power play, as the Ducks connect with an efficent shift. Chris Pronger and Dustin Penner get the assists.

After three consecutive unsuccessful power plays, Alexander Frolov finally scores on a one-timer from Visnovsky to even the score. Avery battles Todd Marchant on the boards, getting the puck to Lubo. Lubo passes over to Frolov, who wound up and shot it past the Bryzgalov. Frolov now has 9 goals in his last 10 games.

The game tonight is on KDOC, which is the Ducks' alternate channel. Back in the day, KDOC was home to talk show host wally George, as well as Richard Blade's Video One show, a countdown program featuring the KROQ radio jock. However, they were bought out by a bigger company, and started showing older show. It's strange to see commercials for Charlies Angels. Their new station motto is "Endless Classics," showing such programs as the Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, Cheers and Charlies Angels. As we fade to commercial, KDOC Sports starts playing LL Cool J's Going Back to Cali, which made me laugh loud enough to wake my dozing bulldog.

At the end of the first, L.A. has 16 goals in the first, as opposed to 6 last night at Staples Center.

First period: Kings 1, Ducks 1

In the game, the Ducks are laying into the Kings. Dustin Brown gets hammered early in the second, but shows the presence of mind to get up, get the puck and put a shot on goal. Seconds later, Blake chips the puck in the corner. It squirts to Ivanans, who passes over to an open Armstrong, who scores on the backhand, lifting the Kings to 2-1

After that, the Ducks get very frustrated. Dustin Penner gets called for hooking, then Rob Niedermayer got rung up for high sticking. The Kings have a two-man advantage for a minute and a half. But for the second game in a row, The Kings fail with the 2 extra man advantage. Pronger nailed Kopitar during the two-man, and Anze was slow to get up. But the Kings head into the third period ahead of the Pacific Division-leading Ducks.

KDOC Sports plays the Red Hot Chili Peppers' song Californication as we head to a commercial break between periods. I sense a trend here. With literally nothing better to do, I watch a commercial for one of KDOC's movies: the Brian Bosworth classic, Stone Cold. Long Live The Mullet!

Second period: Kings 2, Ducks 1

The period starts with 25 seconds in the penalty to Todd Marchant, and it is killed. Willsie gets called for high sticking. But the Kings kill that penalty, as it appears L.A. has decided to place a little defense. Cloutier makes a great play when the Ducks crash the net, and Cloutier refused to let them score. All five Kings surrounded Cloutier to insure he doesn't have to carry the load himself.

Frolov gets a breakaway, but he gets too fancy with it. Bryzgalov makes the save, but then signals to the bench. He is shaken up, sliding over to make the save on Frolov. He skates off and is replaced by Giguere.

Chris Kunitz gets a strong shift in minutes later, as he hit Kostopoulos, then Armstrong. The Ducks start flying, and the Kings are reeling. Who comes to the rescue? Number 11, Anze Kopitar single-handedly slows the Ducks down, when he dives out to deflect a pass to a defenseman to stop play. It served two purposes: 1) to stop the Ducks from swarming, and 2) allows the Kings to change up.

The break seemed to help L.A., as the Kings start to control the puck more, ticking off seconds as they hold on to the lead. Cloutier makes several great saves, as the defense continues to surround the crease to limit shots on goal. One of tonight's best players has been Sean Avery. As many times as he's been targeted by Ducks thugs, he continues to hold his patience, and doesn't tally any box time.

Any time Avery is on the ice, the Ducks make sure to put a boddy to him. Late in the third, Avery has the puck and instantly attracts two Ducks. Avery simply passes it over to a wide-open Frolov, who knocks it past Giguere for an insurance goal, to make it 3-1. Avery now has two assists on the night.

With a minute left, the Ducks pull Giggy out of goal, and Marchant knocks one past a sprawling Cloutier to make it, 3-2. Good thing the Kings got that insurance goal. But Anaheim just runs out of time, as the Kings win. Tonight's game was the second regulation loss for the Ducks in the Ponda Center this season.

Right after the game on KDOC, Cheers is shown. It was the one where Sam and Rebecca pretend they are engaged. I thought I was burned out by the many, repeated reruns on Ch. 5 over the years. But I forgot just how good that cast of characters was. Especially Woody. Good times.

Third period: Kings 3, Ducks 2