The ever-irritable Darryl Sutter was hilariously accurate with his post-game assessment of his LA Kings' 6-5 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night.

"It was just kind of a pond hockey game," he said.

But a helluva one at that.

Sutter wasn't amused, but any hockey fan should be delighted at the prospects of Saturday's matinee rematch.

Here are three things you need to know:

On the mend

Wednesday's game pretty much had it all - but what it was missing was the man who led the NHL in goals in the season's opening month.

That man, Corey Perry, could be back in the Anaheim Ducks' lineup for the first time in four games after being hospitalized with the mumps. Yes, the mumps.

Because the Ducks aren't really the Ducks without Perry, we haven't seen the best of what might quite possibly be the best rivalry in the NHL. He's as mean as he is talented, and his return - despite the result Anaheim achieved Wednesday - is integral to the team's success: the Ducks lost the first three games Perry sat out with illness.

Under seige

Los Angeles' blue line was dealt another blow Thursday, when Game 7 overtime hero Alec Martinez suffered a finger injury that required surgery.

Come Saturday, the Kings will have lost games from four regular contributors to the blue line and will be without more than 50 percent of the defensemen who contributed to their second Stanley Cup in three seasons last spring.

They may receive a boost with Robyn Regehr's return, but with Brayden McNabb and Jamie McBain playing prominent roles, the Kings will have a tough time improving on the five goals and 88 attempts at goal they allowed Wednesday night.

Bouncing back

Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen has an exemplary record as an NHL starter, but an even better one coming off a loss.

In his career, Andersen is 6-0-1 with a no decision in his career following defeat. Yes, Andersen has only suffered eight losses in 35 decisions to start his career.

He didn't lose to the Kings, per se, but did get yanked from the Ducks' crease after allowing three goals on 10 shots in the first period.

Andersen will likely be back in the net, where precedent suggests he'll give Anaheim a good chance to claim four points in the first two meetings between these two Californian giants.

By the way, if you haven't seen Sutter in his entirety following Wednesday's loss - this is worth a watch.