Kings 6, Ducks 1: Four Observations from Staples

Last night’s preseason contest between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks was wildly entertaining. The Kings racked up 48 shots, the post-whistle scrums were minimal even as the play was physical, and players who spent last year in the AHL or in other cities were given a chance to shine against the Ducks. The 6-1 result was a reflection of how well the guys played, and with no more than three players truly guaranteed a roster spot, everyone was looking for clues on what this means for the start of the season. We tried to draw some conclusions, and here they are:

Nic Dowd has a leg up. On everyone. Yes, I know, reading too much into a 6-1 game is a bad idea. But we need to talk about…