Freeway Face - Off The term Freeway Face - off refers to a series of hockey games played between the National Hockey League ' s Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings , both of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference . The series takes its name from the massive freeway system in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area , the home of both teams ; one could travel from one team ' s arena to the other simply by traveling along Interstate 5 . The term is akin to the " Freeway Series " which refers to meetings between the Los Angeles area baseball teams . History . Along with the enmity shared between the city of Los Angeles and adjacent Orange County similar to baseball ' s Freeway Series , the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks share an on - ice rivalry due to sheer geographic proximity . The two teams are situated in the same metropolitan area , and share a television market . The rivalry started with the Ducks ' inaugural season in , and has since continued . The Kings last made an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in , but have popped back into the playoff picture on five different seasons . The Ducks since their inauguration have made the playoffs seven times . As of 2009 – 10 , the Kings and Ducks have never met in the playoffs , nor made the playoffs in the same year . Since 2003 , the Ducks recent success in the playoffs , including the winning of the Stanley Cup in 2007 has bolstered Anaheim ' s fan base , at the same time the Kings ' fan base still remains intact with loyal fans despite a recent lack of success . The Ducks also went to the Finals during their Cinderella run of 2003 . During regular season ( and , to some extent , pre - season ) games , Kings fans arrive at the Honda Center in numbers for away games against the Ducks , and Ducks fans have done the same at Staples Center . Games between the Southern California crosstown - rivals are often very physical and fight - filled . The rivalry was showcased for the NHL premier in London at the start of the 2007 – 08 NHL season with two games between the teams . The rivalry was further heated during the 2010 NHL Entry Draft , which was hosted by the Kings in their home arena of Staples Center . When the Ducks took the stage to announce their 1st round , 12 overall pick , the audience predominantly consisting of Kings fans , let out boos . Prior to 2007 , there was no official name for the regular season meetings between the Ducks and Kings , the " Freeway Face - off " name was chosen by a poll of 12 , 000 local hockey fans . Other names being considered were " Freeze - way Series " and " Ice - 5 Series . " Common players . Brothers . Sean " " and Chris Pronger " " < br > Other players . Several players have played for both teams , including : The series . Postseason series . As of 2010 , the Ducks and the Kings have never met in the postseason . Because both teams are in the same division , they could theoretically meet in the Conference Quarter - finals , Conference Semi - finals , or Conference Finals , but could not meet in the Stanley Cup finals unlike MLB ' s Angels and Dodgers ( another rivalry in the area ) who can only meet in the championship round ( the World Series ) . To date , the two teams have never made the playoffs in the same year .