Season on the line for Ducks, Kings

For the past few years, the Anaheim Ducks have watched enviously while the Los Angeles Kings evolved into phenomenal playoff performers and Stanley Cup champions.

The Ducks want that reputation as much as they want the Cup.

In Game 7 of their Western Conference semifinal series tonight, they’re on the perfect stage to supplant their rivals and to demonstrate they’re a title contender, and not just a regular-season power.

“We knew what kind of team they were,” Ducks forward Andrew Cogliano said. “We knew things weren’t going to be easy and they weren’t going to be quick.”

After five straight wins in elimination games this spring, the Kings won’t surrender their postseason supremacy easily.

“When you have our trust and experience with each other, it puts games like this in perspective,” Kings captain Dustin Brown said. “We know what has to be done.”

The Kings have pushed another playoff opponent to the limit, and the Ducks have one last chance to push back. After a series filled with tight games, dramatic momentum swings and improbable heroes, Los Angeles and Anaheim will finish their first postseason series matchup with one game to earn a trip to the conference finals against Chicago.

“You say you want to approach this like any other game, but no one believes that,” Ducks defenseman

Late Wednesday

Conference finals

Ben Lovejoy said. “This is an exciting time. These are situations that you grow up wanting to be involved in.”

The top-seeded Ducks have more at stake than extending forward Teemu Selanne’s career. Coach Bruce Boudreau’s team had the best regular season in franchise history but will have little to show for it without one more win over the Kings, who have developed a preternatural poise in tough situations. Los Angeles improved to 6-1 in elimination games over the past two years with its 2-1 win in Game 6 on Wednesday.