Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Scores and stats from Orange County games on Thursday, April 18

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday.

THURSDAY’S SCORES

SOFTBALL

ORANGE LEAGUE

Anaheim 16, Western 3

Santa Ana Valley 10, Magnolia 0

SUNSET LEAGUE

Los Alamitos 9, Marina 0

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Esperanza 12, Villa Park 2

Esp: Ireland 2-3, 4RBI, Page 3-3, 3RBI, Sicard 2-4, 2RBI, Duran (W, 5IP, 10K, 3H, 2R)

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

Foothill 10, Yorba Linda 0

Foot: Zamarripa 3-4, 2B, 3R, RBI, Rycroft 3-3, 2B, 4RBI, R, Penaloza 2-4, HR, 4RBI, R, Mendez (W, 5IP, 0R, 5H)

EMPIRE LEAGUE

Pacifica 16, Crean Lutheran 1

Kennedy 15, Tustin 0

Cypress 9, Valencia 2

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Capistrano Valley 10, El Toro 0

SOUTH COAST LEAGUE

Tesoro 7, San Juan Hills 4

Tes: McNamara (W, 5IP, 1ER, 5H, 0BB, 3K), Barley 2-2, 2B, 2R, 3RBI, Cisneros 2-3, 2B, 3RBI

Mission Viejo 9, Aliso Niguel 5

MV: Jepson 3-3, 3R HR, (Uehara W, 2.2 IP, 0R)

AN: Nelson 2 HR, Gajne 3-3, HR, 2B, BB, SB

TRINITY LEAGUE

Rosary 4, Mater Dei 0

Ros: (Phillips W, 6IP, 3K, 5H), Gutierrez 2-4, 3RBI, 2B, Serrano 2-3, BB, Vecchione 2-2, HBP, R, Caldera 2-4

BASEBALL

TRINITY LEAGUE

Orange Lutheran 3, Mater Dei 1

FREEWAY LEAGUE

Sunny Hills 4, Buena Park 2

SAN JOAQUIN LEAGUE

Capistrano Valley Christian 18, The Webb Schools 1

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Northwood 5, Sage Hill 2

Savanna 6, Big Bear 5

SAN JOAQUIN LEAGUE

Pacifica Christian 3, Western Christian 1

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

EXPRESS LEAGUE

Acaciawood Academy def. Liberty Christian, 25-18, 25-20, 20-25, 26-24

NONLEAGUE

NOVA Academy def. Cristo Rey, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17

NA: Cabada 5 kills, 14 assists, 5 aces, Serafin 7 kills, 3 aces, Velazquez 6 kills, 6 aces, Hernandez 5 kills, 3 aces

BOYS TENNIS

TRINITY LEAGUE

Orange Lutheran 10, St. John Bosco 8

Santa Margarita 12, Mater Dei 6

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

El Dorado 11, Brea Olinda 7

ORANGE COAST LEAGUE

Orange 15, Estancia 3

SOUTH COAST LEAGUE

Tesoro 11, Aliso Niguel 7

WAVE LEAGUE

Fountain Valley 10, Newport Harbor 8

Huntington Beach 13, Laguna Beach 5

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

La Quinta 14, Bolsa Grande 4

NONLEAGUE

St. Margaret’s 11, Trabuco Hills 7

GIRLS LACROSSE

SOUTH COAST LEAGUE

San Clemente 20, Trabuco Hills 7

NONLEAGUE

St. Margaret’s 16, Downey 5

BOYS SWIMMING

TRINITY LEAGUE

Santa Margarita 122, Mater Dei 48

200 Medley Relay – SM 1:33.32

200 Freestyle – Hunter Cehelnik (SM) 1:38.88, Carson Eich (SM) 1:44.08

200 IM – Jerry Yan (SM) 1:55.31, Adam Lee (SM) 1:57.49, Darren Nguyen (SM) 1:59.35

50 Freestyle – Ramon Jiang (SM) 21.42, Dean Fujimoto (SM) 22.09, Carson Eich (SM) 22.23

100 Butterfly – Nathan Wu (SM) 52.27, Darren Nguyen (SM) 52.42, Taylor Thongintra (SM) 55.59

100 Freestyle – Daniel Verdolaga (SM) 48.43, Nicholas Lee (SM) 49.39

500 Freestyle – Hunter Cehelnik (SM) 4:37.35, Luke Collins (SM) 4:39.69, Adam Lee (SM) 4:46.54

200 Freestyle Relay – SM 1:26.24

100 Backstroke – Daniel Verdolaga (SM) 51.12, Jerry Yan (SM) 51.69, Nathan Wu (SM) 54.18

100 Breaststroke – Taylor Thongintra (SM) 57.13, William Jung (SM) 58.30, Zachary Zhang (SM) 59.11

400 Freestyle Relay – SM 3:09.02

GIRLS SWIMMING

TRINITY LEAGUE

Mater Dei 107, Santa Margarita 63

200 Medley Relay – SM 1:51.02

200 Freestyle – Hannah Campbell (SM) 1:55.40, Kenna Stinson (SM) 2:00.21

200 IM – Sophia Zhu (SM) 2:11.64, Makenna Wilson (SM) 2:16.20, Gracyn Aquino (SM) 2:18.62

50 Freestyle – Audrey Lee (SM) 24.94

100 Butterfly – Gracyn Aquino (SM) 59.85, Makenna Wilson (SM) 1:02.22

100 Freestyle – Audrey Lee (SM) 55.09, Chloe Stinson (SM) 55.20

500 Freestyle – Hannah Campbell (SM) 5:08.24, Nicole Christensen (SM) 5:11.68, Sammy Cummins (SM) 5:17.40

200 Freestyle Relay – SM 1:40.73

100 Backstroke – Sammy Cummins (SM) 59.66, Nicole Christensen (SM) 1:00.36, Eileen Song (SM) 1:02.96

100 Breaststroke – Eileen Song (SM) 1:06.80, Sophia Zhu (SM) 1:07.48

400 Freestyle Relay – SM 3:43.64

BOYS GOLF

TRINITY LEAGUE

Servite 182, Mater Dei 202

Western Hills CC (par 35)

SURF LEAGUE

Corona del Mar 185, Los Alamitos 204

Old Ranch CC

ORANGE COAST LEAGUE

St. Margaret’s 170, Orange 279

Riverview GC

NORTH HILLS

El Dorado 171, Brea Olinda 179

Brea Creek GC

FREEWAY LEAGUE

Fullerton 177, Sonora 197

Fullerton GC

605 LEAGUE

Whitney 201, Oxford Academy 246

LOS ANGELES — Eric Gentry will never forget the number 116, because it has been weaponized around USC, a painful trigger pressed over and over and over again as a reminder of the season that was lost.

116. It comes after every defensive workout, one additional set of repetitions, as Gentry described after USC’s final spring practice on Thursday. One more rep for every rung USC dropped in total-defense rankings in 2023. 116 reps. 116th in yards-per-game allowed. A cardinal-red stain on the back of the returning Trojans’ jerseys, the reminder glistening in every drop of sweat.

“If you don’t feel like you got (something) to prove here,” Gentry said Thursday, “you shouldn’t be here, really.”

Not exactly a novel idea, the notion that the holdovers on this USC defense would be motivated by the mess that was 2023, the midseason demise of coordinator Alex Grinch and any sort of championship hopes quickly derailed. But many of those individuals, simply, don’t just have something to prove – they have no choice but to prove it, time ticking on next-level hopes and collegiate dreams as stocks have dropped.

And few have more left to prove than Anthony Lucas.

The former five-star defensive lineman came to USC via the transfer portal in January 2023, seeking a fresh start and a clean slate, after a quiet freshman season that ended in embarrassment at Texas A&M: a suspension due to a locker room incident after a loss. He left an immediate impression, impossible to overlook his 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame; he started off the edge in USC’s first game of the fall against San Jose State, recording 37 snaps.

By their final regular-season game against UCLA, Lucas earned all of two snaps, finishing the season with seven tackles, nine pressures and not a single sack.

“I mean, it wasn’t really good,” Lucas said Thursday, when asked how he would assess his performance last season. “So I mean, I gotta get back to the drawing board and get back to it.”

What were specific things he identified to work on?

“Everything.”

It was perfectly simple, Lucas generally a man of few words with reporters. It was also everything that needed to be said. And instead of continuing to fade in USC’s defensive line plans under new coach Eric Henderson’s regime, Lucas has been one of the most hotly-buzzed names of spring camp, bulked up and making an instant impact to coaches and teammates alike.

“He’s much more consistent,” head coach Lincoln Riley said Tuesday. “It’s not just like a flash play here and there. I think he’s one of the guys that have really taken to the new scheme, the new style up front – it’s really fit what he needed to become as a player. … I think he’s growing up, and I think the scheme and the coaching fit have been very positive for him.”

It was readily easily to forget, under his imposing build, that Lucas was still a fairly inexperienced sophomore last season, which defensive ends coach Shaun Nua pointed to as the reason for his struggles last year. After slimming to 265 pounds as part of USC’s defense last year, Lucas is back up to 275, a mass he said Thursday has allowed him to move faster and with more confidence.

And on a revamped defensive front with an emphasis on versatility – which the returning Nua called “a different way of doing things” – Lucas had stood out, a lineman who has been working both inside and on the edge.

“We might have four fast guys in there, or four big guys in there,” Nua said last week. “So it’s a very versatile defense, and that’s the beauty about it.”

Under Nua and Henderson, USC has assembled a stockpile of malleable, stocky defensive linemen, from Vanderbilt transfer Nate Clifton to 6-6 freshman Kameryn Fountain, who Nua said had “all the talent in the world.” But after Texas A&M transfer Isaiah Raikes hit the portal again in a matter of months, Lucas’ continued development has only become more important, Nua singling out the junior as the most versatile piece of USC’s defensive line.

“I think Ant, especially, is becoming more focused, even more,” Gentry said. “He didn’t have a lot of opportunities that he felt – to display himself last year, or the snap count fell off.”

“So he feel like he got a lot to prove.”

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

MISSION VIEJO — Mission Viejo’s softball team continued to conjure memories of its magical 2022 season Thursday while competing in another intense South Coast League game.

The Diablos scored all their runs with two outs and overcame four home runs by Aliso Niguel to collect a 9-5 victory at Mission Viejo High.

Mission Viejo (18-5-1, 6-1), ranked 12th in Orange County, scored four runs with two outs in the sixth inning to snap a 5-5 tie and remain a half-game ahead of Tesoro (13-3-1, 5-1) in league.

“It’s kind of going back to our 2022 season,” said Diablos coach Clint Watson, who guided his team to the CIF-SS Division 2 title that spring. “It’s just fight. The will to win, the why-not-us-type of attitude. There was a lot of energy today.”

Mission Viejo, ranked fifth in Division 2, took a 6-5 lead on a two-out single up the middle by Kara King, its No. 9 batter.

Leadoff batter Ava Tabangcura followed with a RBI infield single and Mars Ruvalcaba singled in two more runs to cap the scoring in the sixth.

Mission Viejo scored the four runs after Aliso Niguel center fielder Gigi Ganje robbed a home run with a grab over the fence earlier in the inning.

“We answered,” Watson said. “We literally preached (two-out hitting) for 45 minutes yesterday toward the end of our hitting (in practice).”

Mission Viejo freshman Kylee Jepson sparked the clutch hitting with a two-out, three-run home run to opposite field for a 3-2 lead in the second. She finished 3 for 3.

In the third, a two-out single by Mission Viejo catcher Hailey Gald was misplayed in right and led to two runs scoring.

Ganje, a Penn commit, hit one of the Wolverines’ four home runs and finished 3 for 3 with a walk. She launched a two-run home run to tie the score 5-5 with one out in the fifth.

Leadoff batter and Stanford commit Taylor Nelson hit two home runs and catcher Tessa Cowsill added one for the No. 13 Wolverines (13-5-1, 4-2).

“You always know on a big game, those three are going to bring their best,” Aliso Niguel coach Randie Baldwin said Ganje, Nelson and Cowsill. “We’re not out of it (in league) by any means.”

Mission Viejo turned to Reece Uehara to quiet the Wolverines’ powerful bats. The junior committed to Princeton responded by pitching 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief of starter Sofia Elliott to earn the win.

“We got each other’s back,” Uehara said. “As a relief pitcher, you just got to put out the fire the best you can. That’s what I tried to do.”

“We have a lot of seniors graduating,” she added. “Everyone just wants to give them the best final year.”

Mission Viejo closes league Wednesday by playing host to Tesoro, which defeated the Diablos 5-1 earlier this week. The Titans play at Aliso Niguel on Monday.

ORANGE — The Canyon softball team was ahead by two runs in the seventh inning and an out away from victory in a key Crestview League game against El Modena on Thursday at El Modena High School.

Then, with the bases empty, the Vanguards put together a two-run rally that tied the score and sent the contest to extra innings.

But the Comanches kept their composure and scored four runs in the ninth inning to earn a 6-2 victory.

“First, I think we respect (our opponent) every time we get on a field, especially in our league,” Canyon coach Jess Carbajal said. “We never take it for granted that we’re winning. So, we knew, and the girls prepared for a tough game.”

Jade Diaz drove in the winning run for Canyon in the ninth, but was injured one play later when sliding head first into home to score the Comanches’ fourth run of the inning.

After a 20-minute delay, Diaz was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

The victory is the fifth in a row for the Comanches (21-4, 6-1), who are in first place, one game ahead of second-place Esperanza (5-2 in league) in the four-team league. Esperanza beat Villa Park 12-2 Thursday.

Canyon, ranked No. 3 in the Orange County Top 25, takes on the No. 9 Aztecs on Tuesday with first place on the line.

The teams split their first two league games.

“Now I can talk about going on to Esperanza and we’ll be prepared for that one too,” Carbajal said.

No. 4 El Modena (17-8, 3-4) remains in third place with two league games remaining. Only the top two teams in a four-team league receive automatic playoff berths, and the Vanguards might need an at-large berth to get into the CIF-SS playoffs.

Ava Espinoza doubled to lead off the seventh for the Vanguards and then scored on Kaitlyn Galasso’s double to get El Modena within one run.

Jocelyn Alatorre then singled home Galasso one batter later and the game went to extra innings.

After a scoreless eighth, the Comanches broke the game open with a four-run ninth.

Carson Cooper led off with a walk and after Bella Alcala went in as a pinch runner, Diaz doubled into the gap in left-center field, scoring Alcala to put the Comanches ahead 3-2.

Irma Urincho then doubled to right-center to score Diaz, who was injured on a close play at the plate.

“I think that the big thing that we did was pass the bat,” Urincho said. “One hit and then another hit and it just kept going. Taking Jade’s injury, we just all said we’re going to come together even more than we were and just keep passing bats and keep fighting as a team.”

The Comanches tacked on two more runs, one coming on an RBI single from Kendall Nevin.

“My hat goes off to (El Modena coach) Bobby (Calderon) for fighting back,” Carbajal said. “But I wouldn’t have expected anything less.”

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS — The Ducks’ season finale included a debut, a farewell and another big scoring night for Frank Vatrano.

Vatrano scored three goals and the Ducks ended their season on a high note, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-1, on Thursday night.

Vegas’ three-game winning streak ended and the loss knocked the Golden Knights out of third place in the Pacific Division and into the second Western Conference wild card when the Kings earned a point by getting to overtime against Chicago. The defending Stanley Cup champions will face top seed Dallas in the first round beginning Monday night, while the Kings will face Edmonton.

Vatrano’s goals gave him a career-high 37 for the season. It was his third hat trick this season and the sixth of his career.

Jackson LaCombe had a goal and an assist for the Ducks, who finished 27-50-5 for 59 points. Ryan Strome had two assists and Lukas Dostal made 29 saves.

Cutter Gauthier had an assist in his first career game. Just five days earlier, he was playing in the NCAA championship game at the Frozen Four for Boston College.

“It feels incredible,” Gauthier said of his primary assist on LaCombe’s goal. “I heard Comber calling for it there and I passed it to him. I saw it trickle in there and just very excited, pure joy. It’s something you dream of as a kid.”

Ducks forward Jakob Silfverberg, who played his final NHL game after 12 seasons in the league, was congratulated by his teammates and then shook hands with Golden Knights players after the game. Eleven of his seasons came with the Ducks, and he ranks in the top 10 of several of their franchise categories.

“I enjoyed my time here a lot, not just me but my family,” Silfverberg said. “It’s been 11 amazing years. It’s definitely a team I’ll be rooting for and I’ll follow them closely.”

Jack Eichel scored the Knights’ lone goal. It was his 31st, his most since scoring 36 in the 2019-20 season for Buffalo. Adin Hill made 19 stops for Vegas, which shook off the drop in playoff position.

“Every team that’s left standing is a good hockey team,” Eichel said. “There’s no easy path to winning. We understand every game’s going to be a battle. I think we should be pretty excited. It’s a great opportunity for our team.”

William Karlsson’s second-period assist for Vegas gave him 60 points this season, the second time he’s reached the mark. He had 78 points in the 2017-18 season.

Karlsson remains the club’s single-season goals leader at 43, with Jonathan Marchessault coming one short despite 13 shots against the Ducks, including seven on goal. Marchessault scored only one goal in his final seven games.

The Knights made a concerted effort to get Marchessault the record, sometimes feeding him the puck when there were better options. He had nine shots in the first period alone, four on goal to match the Ducks’ first-period total. Four other shots were blocked and one missed the net.

The Ducks didn’t take their first shot on goal until the 10-minute mark.

“We were asleep in the first 10, 12 minutes,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “We didn’t have our legs. They weren’t moving their feet. They weren’t moving the puck. Vegas was. We were very fortunate we weren’t down 2-0 in the first 10 minutes.”

After a scoreless first period, Vatrano scored at 4:25 of the second and Eichel at 18:47. That was Vegas’ ninth power-play goal this month, tying Calgary for most in the NHL.

LaCombe and Vatrano scored 29 seconds apart early in the third period to give the Ducks the lead for good. Vatrano’s final goal came with 15 seconds left on an empty-netter with the Knights on a 6-on-4 power play.

Ducks defenseman William Lagesson skated in his 100th career game.

Frankie V after the HAT TRICK to cap the season @AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether | #DucksLive pic.twitter.com/uqeF5quKd0

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

Coach Cronin after a promising first season @AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether | #DucksLive pic.twitter.com/eEVNmQNzQe

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

FRANKIE V @AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/ztdy69KfT9

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

FRANKIE V IS FEELING IT @AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/iqblIsF6Ic

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

FRANK FINISHES STRONG @AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/oSQc9MxyvX

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

JACKSON LACOMBE

WE'RE BACK ON TOP @AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/itcjLOPLOw

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

LOS ANGELES — The Kings oh-so-narrowly avoided a matchup with the NHL’s second-best team by reaching overtime against its second-worst as they prevailed, 5-4, against the Chicago Blackhawks in Thursday night’s regular-season finale at Crypto.com Arena.

About four hours to the northeast of Chick Hearn Court, the rival Ducks did their part to aid the Kings’ modest last-second ascent in the standings, beating the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights, 4-1. Vegas had gone 14-6-2 against the other seven playoff teams in the Western Conference – the Kings posted an 8-12-3 mark – but lost three of four matchups with the rebuilding Ducks, all by multiple goals. The Ducks finished one spot ahead of Chicago in the final standings.

Vegas’ loss meant the Kings needed just one point to reach third place in the Pacific Division and head to Edmonton to start the playoffs against the Oilers for a third straight season, with Game 1 slated for Monday night. Had they lost in regulation, they would have faced the Dallas Stars.

The Kings took a two-goal lead into the third period, but promptly blew it when the Blackhawks scored three times in five minutes. They secured two points when Viktor Arvidsson scored with 1:21 left in regulation, then Adrian Kempe rifled in his 28th goal of the season from the right faceoff dot, unassisted, just six seconds into overtime.

“It’s hard not to think about the whole picture,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “I guess we kind of knew what the score was (in Las Vegas) going out for the third period, and all that stuff. Didn’t plan on going down one goal, but I guess we got the job done in the end, and we’re going back to Edmonton.”

Kempe and the Kings’ offense bailed out Cam Talbot on a night when he allowed four goals on a meager 13 shots. Kempe added an assist to match the contributions of Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore. Arvidsson and Phillip Danault each had three-point nights, with Arvidsson scoring twice in another huge game for a veteran who missed 63 games this season with injuries.

Ryan Donato had a goal and an assist for Chicago, which scored three goals in the third period to take a lead. Joey Anderson, Tyler Johnson and Lukas Reichel also scored. Arvid Söderblom made 30 saves.

Kopitar said the playoffs were a “blank page and it’s time to start writing on it,” even though the story the Kings have authored throughout the season has been a turbulent one.

“We’ve lost to some teams that we shouldn’t have lost to,” Byfield said. “Those ones are tough, but we’ve got a great leadership group in here with a lot of playoff experience.”

Kempe’s individual effort built on the late power-play goal from Arvidsson, who converted during a 6-on-4 advantage with Talbot pulled for an extra attacker and Chicago’s Philipp Kurashev in the penalty box. Arvidsson popped into the slot to receive the puck from Byfield, who earned his second $212,500 contract bonus of the night for his 35th assist as Arvidsson fired the puck through his countryman Söderblom for his sixth goal of 2023-24.

Byfield will be expected to share that wealth.

“I don’t think he’s getting away with just a couple [dinners]. We’ll make sure it’s a nice team meal, and then some,” Kopitar said.

The 21-year-old Byfield was well aware.

“The goal and the assist tonight are definitely going to cost me a lot,” Byfield said with a smirk as an unidentified voice from the changing room shouted “cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching!”

That smirk was nearly a frown, as the Kings blew their two-goal lead to trail 4-3. A mere 88 seconds into the third period, Chicago halved its deficit and just 2:14 later they erased it completely before taking their second lead of the night at the 6:28 mark.

Forecheck pressure from Jaycob Megna won the puck back for Chicago before MacKenzie Entwhistle chucked it toward the net front, where it was deflected home by Donato.

Landon Slaggert pestered Kopitar into a turnover, then moved the puck ahead to Anderson, the sibling of the Kings’ Mikey Anderson. He showed no brotherly love as he went forehand to backhand to slip the puck past Talbot.

The Blackhawks got the ball rolling in the final period on the power play. With all four Kings penalty killers on the left side of the ice, a simple reversal to Johnson near the right point allowed him to glide forward into the faceoff circle for a shot inside the far post.

After heading into the first intermission trailing, the Kings stacked up three second-period goals to tilt the game in their favor.

Moore stretched the lead to 3-1 with 2:36 left after Jarred Tinordi fell in a heap and into a heap of trouble behind his own net. Danault pounced, moving the puck quickly in front to Arvidsson, who sent it across to Moore for his team-leading 31st goal of the season.

The Kings got their first lead of the night and Byfield got his first point in 10 games and his first goal in 20. It was one that earned him a big bonus to boot, since it was his 20th of the season. During a power play, Danault heaved the puck from the outside of the left circle to the far post, where Byfield had position on Seth Jones for a redirection marker 16:04 into the frame.

Chicago appeared to reclaim the lead with 7:45 showing on the clock but Jason Dickinson’s would-be short-handed goal was nullified on review after it was determined he redirected the puck with a distinct kicking motion. That and the untimely delay of game penalty by Philipp Kurashev that led to Arvidsson’s second goal were pivotal moments.

The Kings drew even 4:37 into the second period. Moore turned the puck in from the offensive blue line down below the goal line, where Danault skated it down after knocking the stick out of Dickinson’s hands. Danault circled the back of the net and weaved into the slot, where he found Arvidsson for a one-timer below the left faceoff dot that hit Söderblom before squeaking through him. It was the Swede-on-Swede crime for the fifth goal of Arvidsson’s injury-plagued campaign.

“He is a game-breaker. He’s shown that in the past, not just with us but with Nashville, too,” Kopitar said. “So it’s good to have him going into the playoffs in good form.”

After mounting an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal, the Kings gave up the evening’s first score just the same when lead feet turned into flat ones for the uncommon defensive pairing of Andreas Englund and Jacob Moverare. The Kings won a faceoff but bobbled the puck, at which point Reichel darted ahead, lobbed the puck between the two lumbering defenders and split them to dart off on a breakaway that he finished with a bit of hesitation before putting the puck away off his backhand.

“Well, we got it done, right?” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “I thought their goalie played very well. It ended up being close because we gave them some chances in the third period. Didn’t think it should have been a close game. We had to gather ourselves and score some big goals.”

Hiller would not commit to a Game 1 starting goalie nor say if he would align the group with 12 forwards and six defensemen or 11 and seven, nor did the Kings know for sure when they would skate in the coming days ahead of what was likely a Sunday flight to Edmonton.

ARVY TIES IT UP@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/6MjvcU78kP

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

JUST LIKE THAT JUICE CALLS GAME@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/HIn1zfvBQW

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

Coach Hiller gives final thoughts @LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/m7maZObYrb

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

Qb discusses the win and playoffs @LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/SLf8EOts25

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

Kopi speaks with the media following the win@LAKings I #LAKingsLive pic.twitter.com/al7LB2ZKpP

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

ARVY TIES IT UP@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/C8rwJbKizN

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

QB GIVES LA THE LEAD ON THE POWERPLAY@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/XeGPxMsBUm

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

MOORE GOALS IN THE SECOND@LAKings I #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/3eHMIQgtwG

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) April 19, 2024

Before the drivers stand atop a championship podium, before the engines roar to life — even before some 200,000 fans flock to downtown Long Beach — there are myriad folks who have worked around the clock to bring the “200-mph beach party” to life.

Their goal is not only to put on the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach but also to create a community. And often, it’s women who are working to foster that community — for other women, as well as those new to the sport.

“I grew up in motorsports,” said Taylor Bedell, the marketing communications manager for SRO Motorsports, which runs several racing series. “I love the sport so much — it’s such a close-knit family. It’s a really small community. Everybody is so kind and open; plus, it’s an adrenaline high.”

Bedell, 27, is an evangelist of sorts for the sport and SRO. She coordinates SRO’s message and branding, working with media and event organizers to “introduce our drivers to the world and … educate lots of people on this fun new sport that continues to grow.”

It’s that growth, that innovation within the racing world, that excites Bedell the most.

“My favorite part is definitely how quickly it evolves,” said Bedell, who is based in Columbus, Ohio. “It’s the only sport that’s on the pulse, on the cutting edge. We are constantly changing and listening to our audience. We are just able to pivot at a rate that’s much quicker than other sports and welcome these innovations.”

Related: At the Grand Prix of Long Beach, these are the women racers to watch

Bedell’s path to a career in racing was almost inevitable, since both of her parents worked in sports car racing. Her dad has worked as a crew chief and team manager; her mother is on the logistics and hospitality side.

She sought an engineering degree from the University of Utah, but a marketing internship changed her trajectory of just what she wanted to do within the racing realm — how she wanted to promote the sport.

And she’s not the only one who has taken on this “ambassador” role for the Grand Prix and motorsports.

Karen Pasion wasn’t always interested in racing — but she was looking for ways to give back to her Long Beach community.

After some cajoling from friends, Pasion joined the nonprofit Committee of 300 as a volunteer a few years ago. Now, she’s the group’s president-elect — and knows a bit more about the drivers and teams, too.

The Committee of 300 has staged, planned and promoted the Grand Prix since 1975. With many donning red jackets, the nonprofit’s members watch over the grandstand seating, helping racing revelers find their seats, breaking up altercations and rendering assistance as needed.

“We’re considered the ambassadors of the grandstands,” Pasion said.

For her, the Grand Prix isn’t just about the race — albeit, that is a big part. But it’s an opportunity to foster community.

There are food and beverage vendors, sure, but also exotic cars, racing simulators and competitions, and play areas for kids. There are opportunities to meet the drivers and meet the cars.

That’s exactly the mission that drives Zandara Kennedy, a stunt performer and Formula Drift ProSpec driver: getting an insider’s look at the sport.

During the Formula Drift competition — held the weekend before the Grand Prix — Kennedy hosted multiple events introducing women to drift racing and the women working in so many roles in the sport, from demo driver to mechanic, team manager to rig driver. But Kennedy also wants to introduce others to the sport.

“It was important to me,” Kennedy said, “to provide a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ fans and neophytes alike to be able to experience the thrill of drifting.”

It cost Kennedy “literally everything I earned in 20 years,” she said, to break into drift racing — and that’s not realistic. And that’s why Kennedy wants to make the sport more accessible, but also enlighten women on the various other jobs that go into the sport.

“Becoming a race car driver shouldn’t be the only way for women to be involved in motorsports,” said Kennedy, who splits her time between Vancouver and Los Angeles.

The gender disparity in the pits of Formula Drift is more evident, Kennedy said: “It’s not because women aren’t welcome; it’s because young women don’t see the path to create that opportunity.”

And so that’s what she’s set out to change — one race at a time.

Q. This may be outside your realm of expertise, but I’m hoping you have a suggestion. Cars speed on our residential street with no regard to residents (or pets). We have neighbors with young children and pets. Who do I contact to see about putting in speed bumps? The City Council?

– Mrs. Antonella Bennett, Pasadena

A. You came to the right place, Mrs. Bennett, Honk is all knowing – or at least he knows who to call for the goods.

Nader Asmar, Pasadena’s principal traffic engineer, told Honk residents can go to the city’s online City Service Center and put in requests. Just Google it. Even if the form isn’t filled out exactly right, he said it will end up with the proper official.

“We will … contact them and go through the process with them,” Asmar said. “The city does have humps, and there are many around town.”

Pasadena, as you can see, calls them “humps,” not “bumps,” and now deploys a version called “speed cushions.”

To get them installed, there are some regulations in the city’s policy. In general, the street must experience 1,000 to 4,000 vehicles a day, at least 15% of them have to significantly speed (33 mph or more on a 25-mph street), and a petition must be circulated with 67% or more of the block residents giving the project a thumbs-up. There are some other considerations, too.

The City Council approved the policy so city staffers can make the call.

Now for the fun, nerdy stuff:

Speed cushions look like rectangular pads. On asphalt streets in Pasadena, asphalt itself is used to make them. On concrete streets, rubber ones are bolted on.

They are wide enough so at least one side of a car must go over them. But they are skinny enough so a fire truck can straddle them and not lose speed on the way to an emergency.

For those outside of Pasadena who want speed humps, bumps or cushions, call your city hall and ask to be transferred to the department in charge of them.

Q. Honk: Who paints the address number on the curb? We keep getting pamphlets asking for $20 to repaint a fading street-address number for our home. Is this a city-sponsored program?

– Mauricio B. Edberg, West Hills

A. Honk would bet his editor’s paycheck it is a person or two just trying to make a few bucks or toiling for a charity.

In fact, he was out walking his dog this week and saw two young people sitting in the street, next to the curb, painting away. He admired how they had an orange pylon next to them so drivers saw them.

Years ago, a co-worker of Honk supplemented his income by painting the address numbers.

In your city, Los Angeles, to do such work legally takes a specific permit that requires, among other things, a $100,000 insurance policy. The annual permit costs $211.

The painter must give the homeowner sufficient advance notice of the work, so he or she can object if desired. If you don’t ask for the work, you don’t have to pay, and the city does not determine the cost. The painter must be able to show residents the permit.

L.A. does regulate how the painting is done.

Other cities and unincorporated areas likely have similar laws. For info, once again, call your city hall or the appropriate local government.

HONKIN’ FACT: The 405 Express Lanes are averaging 1.2 million trips a month since they opened on Dec. 1. Eric Carpenter, a spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority, said that figure allowed revenue projections to be met to continue paying off the cost of the lanes’ construction. March pulled in the most cash for a month so far: $2.5 million.

To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk. Twitter: @OCRegisterHonk

Last year, the United States Surgeon General published a report on the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation.

Social isolation and loneliness are often forgotten social determinants of health for people of all ages. Meaningful social connection is an essential human need for mental and physical well-being. Recent research has revealed a significant link between social isolation and loneliness and worse physical health outcomes.

Unfortunately, these issues are more widespread than other public health concerns and they are on the rise.

About one in four adults aged 65 and older are socially isolated. Social isolation is a lack of relationships and little or no social support. Those who are socially isolated may or may not feel lonely. Loneliness is feeling disconnected or alone including feeling a lack of close or meaningful relationships or belonging. An individual with many friends and family may still feel lonely.

Loneliness affects some people more than others; low-income folks, young adults, older adults, individuals living alone, people with chronic diseases and disabilities, immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community are vulnerable. Factors that can increase social isolation and loneliness include having a lower income, mental health concerns, chronic disease, long-term disability, being a victim of domestic violence and life transitions like divorce or job loss among others. Additionally, people in an ongoing caregiver role can become socially isolated and experience loneliness.

A lack of social connection poses a risk to health and longevity. In fact, one study published in the journal American Psychologist found that social isolation can increase the risk of premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Social isolation and loneliness have been linked to an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, dementia and type 2 diabetes.

A new UCLA Health study found differences in brain activity related to food cravings in women who feel lonely. According to the study, those who had higher levels of social isolation had higher fat mass, poorer diet quality, more food cravings, uncontrolled eating behaviors and reward-based eating as well as higher levels of anxiety and depression. This study provides evidence that reinforces what researchers know about the vicious cycle between poor food choices and negative mental health symptoms.

Those struggling with poor eating habits related to mental health may need to take multiple steps to overcome these issues such as seeking professional help, making nutritious foods readily available and reducing feelings of loneliness while increasing social connectedness.

If you are experiencing loneliness or social isolation, here are some steps you can take:

• Speak with your doctor or consider consulting with a mental health counselor.
• Take a class, restart an old hobby or participate in volunteer work.
• Stay in touch with family, friends or neighbors, either in-person or by phone, email, text or video call.
• Practice self-compassion and positive self-talk.
• Consider adopting a pet.
• Join a school or community mentoring program.
• Participate in faith-based organizations.
• Check out local programs at senior centers, community groups and libraries.
• Stay physically fit by joining in on group workouts or walking groups.

LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD is a registered dietitian, providing nutrition counseling and consulting to individuals, families and organizations. She can be reached by email at RD@halfacup.com.

SACRAMENTO – After the Assembly’s Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee recently voted 11-0 to support a far-reaching, speech-quelling, lawsuit-promoting bill in the name of protecting “the children,” Assembly member Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, posted this on X: “The most simple bill ever and I was pleased to support it after a lot of heartburn. All the bill says is companies are liable if they don’t ‘exercise ordinary care or skill towards a child.’ Do you disagree?”

Well, yes, I disagree, but more on that in a moment. When asked by a reporter about his gut reaction, Patterson doubled down: “I worry a little bit about exploding litigation that could clog up our courts. But I think the risks to our children are greater if we don’t ask them to exercise ordinary care.”

I’m not picking on Patterson because he’s a bad guy. Quite the opposite. I’m quoting him because he’s one of the more level-headed lawmakers in the Capitol. If legislation this nefarious gains the imprimatur of someone this thoughtful, then supporters of a free and open internet are in for a long and difficult slog. I do agree that the bill is simple, though. Much bad legislation is gummed up in pages of fine print, but single, poorly drafted sentences can be dangerous, too.

Here is California Assembly Bill 3172’s simple text: “This bill would make a social media platform, as defined, liable for specified damages in addition to any other remedy provided by law, if the platform fails to exercise ordinary care or skill toward a child.” Ordinary care is defined, per the Legal Information Institute, as “the standard of care where a reasonable person would exercise in the same situation or under similar circumstances.”

That does sound so reasonable. But – and it’s generally true that you can ignore everything a person says before the “but” – the measure will lead to “exploding litigation” that apparently was the cause of Patterson’s burning gut. When it comes to free discussions, online or otherwise, it’s impossible to determine a level of ordinary care. Different people (and children are people who also enjoy speech protections) have different reactions when faced with uncomfortable ideas and information.

How can a social-media company comply with that vague concept on platforms that cater to millions of users and involve billions of interactions? I’ve known young people with thick skins and inquiring minds who benefit from perusing reams of information on websites – and others who act like crushed snowflakes when they stumble upon something that challenges their cherished assumptions.

Social-media platforms will have little choice but to restrict access to teens, and limit and increasingly police content. It’s a form of prior restraint. “(B)y leveling millions of dollars’ worth of damages for editorial decisions that could be considered harmful to a child, AB 3172 effectively chills private speech,” notes First Amendment attorney Jess Miers in an X post. And, she adds, that’s true even if the bill merely affects the platform’s design (rather than the moderation) given such designs determine what users see.

If it becomes law, any child who experiences any potential harm (real or imagined) from viewing a troubling image (war, famine, LGBTQ materials, racist rants) can seek up to $1 million in damages from media platforms. Parents have online tools available to them, including filters with endless settings, to help oversee their kids’ online habits. Instead of trusting parents to manage their families, lawmakers from both parties prefer to empower the Nanny State. It truly is a great time to be a lawyer.

These 11 lawmakers – including Southland Assembly members Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City; Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach; Jacqui Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks; and author Josh Lowenthal, D-Long Beach – really are playing fast and loose with the First Amendment. The courts have repeatedly struck down overly broad internet regulations because they limit social media companies’ freedom to make editorial decisions. The bill targets firms with any users in California.

“Reasonable people, even parents in the same household, might disagree about what is harmful to a particular teen,” notes an opposition letter from prominent tech and free-speech groups. “AB 3172 asks social media platforms to decide what is harmful to every user and exercise ordinary care to prevent that harm. This ambiguity will be impossible for platforms to operationalize.”

So, yes, the bill causes heartburn. Generally, when something other than a burrito creates that reaction there’s good reason for it and it requires some deeper reflection.

Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute and a member of the Southern California News Group editorial board. Write to him at sgreenhut@rstreet.org.