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Los Angeles learned the hard way it's better to let sleeping (big) dogs lay.
Patrick Maroon scored the game winning goal in the waning moments of the second period as the Anaheim Ducks never trailed, defeating the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in the preseason home opener to improve to 1-1-0 in exhibition Friday night at Honda Center.
Anaheim drew six of the first seven power play opportunities for the game, ultimately cashing in during a five-on-three advantage early in the second period with Jamie McBain sitting following a carryover four minute high sticking minor and Trevor Lewis in the box for a high stick as well. Nick Ritchie retrieved a shot from Sami Vatanen in the far circle, throwing it toward the net where Stefan Noesen knocked it down before sweeping a backhander around Jonathan Quick to the stick side to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead 1:42 in.
The Kings drew even while shorthanded near the midway mark of the second. Jake Muzzin rimmed the puck around to Tanner Pearson along the far boards, who delivered a pass across the slot for Lewis for the finish. Josh Manson got caught circling around the net chasing Muzzin's switch, leaving Lewis alone to beat Frederik Andersen at 9:09.
Period two was Anaheim's strongest, as they out-shot Los Angeles by a 19-7 margin, en route to a 30-25 edge for the game. The second line of Rickard Rakell centering Ritchie and Noesen was the hosts' most active, with Rakell putting a game-high six shots on the LA net and the trio combining for 14 on frame. The Ducks power play finished the evening one of six, putting seven of their shots on net with the man advantage.
The winner came in the dying moments of the period, as Shawn Horcoff won a face off in the offensive zone. Kevin Bieksa zipped the puck along the blue line for Jaycob Megna, whose high shot was whacked down by Maroon past Quick low to the blocker side to give the Ducks the winning margin.
Andersen made 24 stops in his first start of the preseason to pick up the victory, while Quick made 21 stops in 40 minutes of work while taking Los Angeles' first defeat of the preseason. Jhonas Enroth came on for the third period for Los Angeles, turning aside seven shots from the hosts.
The Ducks will be in San Jose for the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday, a 6 PM start from HP Pavillion. The Sharks have played three games in the preseason, going 2-0-1 with a 4-1 home win over the Arizona Coyotes on Friday night.