Caution - Road work ahead for Kings, Ducks if they are to meet again: Play It Forward for April 18-24

Ranking top 10 sports events April 18-24 you won’t want to miss:

NO. 1: STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

KINGS vs. SAN JOSE

Details/TV: Game 3 at San Jose, Monday, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket

DUCKS vs. NASHVILLE

Details/TV: Game 3 at Nashville, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Prime Ticket

Before the Stanley Cup playoffs started, an analysis in USA Today of all 16 participating teams had the Ducks ranked No. 2 (they “will win because of their ability to limit chances against”) and the Kings at No. 4 (“Darryl Sutter has instilled a style that wins in the playoffs; basically stifle all offense against.”) Yet, for them to meet up in the second round, as was expected, there’s going to have to be some major tu of events. Caution: Road work ahead.

We know from recent history the Kings once lost three in a row to the Sharks in a Weste Conference first-round series, somehow scrambled back to win it, then outlasted the Ducks in an epic second round before figuring out an improbable way of claiming the 2014 Stanley Cup. What’ll it take this time? Drew Doughty playing 60 minutes (or more) a game? He’s already logged 34 shifts and 29:19 minutes in Game 1 and 32 shifts and 29:15 minutes in Game 2. But it hasn’t stopped Joe Pavelski from becoming the first star of the game in the first two contests.

During the regular season, the Ducks lost at Nashville on Oct. 22 by a 5-1 count back when they were a mess, sporting a 1-9 record in that month. Circling back on Nov. 17, the Ducks also lost 3-2 with Frederick Anderson in the nets.

Also this week for the Kings: Game 4 at San Jose is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., FSW; If necessary, Game 5 is at Staples Center on Friday, Prime Ticket, with Game 6 in San Jose on Sunday, Time TBA, on FSW or Prime Ticket.

Also this week for the Ducks: Game 4 at Nashville, Thursday at 5 p.m., Prime Ticket. Game 5 at Anaheim, Saturday, time TBA.

NO. 2: NBA PLAYOFFS WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS

CLIPPERS vs. PORTLAND

Details/TV: Game 2 at Staples Center, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, TNT

The Washington Post posted four “X Factors” for the NBA’s Weste Conference series. One of them was Blazers shooting guard C.J. McCollum, who might enjoy facing non-defensive minded Jamal Crawford or Austin Rivers when the reserves log minutes. Writes the Post about second-year man McCollum, the 6-4, 200-pounder out of Lehigh who was second to Damian Lillard in averaging 20.8 points, 4.3 assists and 34.8 minutes a game: “(His) ability to get his own shot as well as create easy looks for the likes of Ed Davis and Allen Crabbe will go a long way to determining if Portland can generate the margins they need.” Also note: The Clippers were worst in the league from 12-to-9 minutes mark left in the second quarter.

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Also this week: Game 3 at Portland, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket, ESPN

NO. 3: MLB: DODGERS at ATLANTA

Details/TV: Tuesday-Thursday

After the Braves started the season 0-6, manager Fredi Gonzalez tried to loosen the mood by allowing the guys to blare music in the locker room. When it reached 0-9, Braves GM John Coppolella chimed in: “The Braves are a gold-standard organization, and to start out the season in this maer is embarrassing and unacceptable.” Then they went out and swept three in a row from Don Mattingly’s Marlins. Figures. None of the Braves’ starters going against the Dodgers in this series have won a game yet. The Dodgers’ Alex Wood (1-1, 4.50), who pitched his first 2½ seasons for the Braves before he was dealt to L.A. at the deadline last season, starts this series opener in case anyone still remembers him there. Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.64) throws in the Thursday afteoon finale.

The series: Tuesday and Wednesday, 4:10 p.m., Thursday, 9:10 a.m., SportsNet LA

NO. 4: MLB: DODGERS at COLORADO

Details/TV: Friday-Sunday

The continuing story of Rockies shortstop Trevor Story, who got the jump on the Dodgers’ Corey Seager in the NL Rookie of the Year race, was included in a USA Today piece about the “five best statistical quirks of the season.” Story, who still leads the MLB in homers, was not only the first player in baseball history to hit seven HRs in his first six games – let alone six in his first six. He was also the first NL rookie to be named Player of the Week since Feando Valenzuela did it in 1981. Apologizes to Troy Tulowitzki or Jose Reyes, but you aren’t missed. Yet. Meanwhile, Nolan Arenado (El Toro High) has a career .309 average at home and .302 career average in April, but he’s hitting just .241 against the Dodgers in 45 games (six HRs, 24 RBIs).

The series: Friday, 5:40 p.m., Saturday, 5:10 p.m., Sunday, 1:10 p.m., SportsNet L.A.

NO. 5: RUNNING: 120th BOSTON MARATHON

Details/TV: Monday, 5:30 a.m., NBCSN

The top American ruers who’ve qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio decided to be in town, but won’t be participating – including Meb Keflezighi, Shalane Flanagan and Desiree Linden. This is the 50th aiversary of the first female participant – Bobbi Gibb did it, unofficially, in 1966. Now, of the 30,747 entrants, more than 14,000 are women, Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa Benti and Tirfi Tsegaye are the favorites in the men’s and women’s division. Benti won it last year in 2:09:17. More info at this link.

NO. 6: COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UCLA SPRING GAME

Details/TV: At Drake Stadium, Saturday, 11:30 a.m., Pac-12 Network

Ohio State had a record 100,189 watch the Buckeyes’ spring game last weekend, while Georgia had 93,000 and Nebraska drew 72,992 for their gloried pre-summer practice. By comparison, USC reported some 24,000 made it to the Coliseum to see the Trojans put on their uniforms and hit last Saturday. Under coach Jim Mora, the Bruins have tried to generate some excitement at the Rose Bowl and StubHub Center in Carson the last three years, but this time, the “spring showcase” is at 11,700-seat Drake Stadium, best known as the on-campus track and field, and soccer, facility. “There will be enough room and the stadium might actually be filled,” writes Mike Regaldo on GoJoBruin.com, “but the only thing that this takes away is the tailgating experience. Mix that with the pain of the construction-laden campus and the awkward parking situations and you have a headache in the making. ... The only thing that could save this is actually having a game. It does not have to be all out, but give the fans a reason to not only come to Westwood to see some football, but to stay. Just four quarters of UCLA Football. No more, no less.” As long as you’re paying $15 for a ticket (or $10 in advance), you should have a say in it. More info at this link.

NO. 7: MLB: ANGELS vs. SEATTLE

Details/TV: At Angel Stadium, Friday-Sunday

The way the AL West has got out of the gate, each team could be at .500 or below when this month ends. This ends a nine-game road trip for the Mainers, who look to have Felix Heandez (1-1, 1.00) slotted to pitch the series opener. Going back to his 2005 rookie season, Heandez is 14-14 in 46 starts with a 3.30 ERA against the Angels. But in six starts against them last year, he was 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA, with 43 Ks in 40 iings. In his last start at Yankee Stadium, Heandez had a career-high six walks but got the win.

The series: Friday, 7:05 p.m., Saturday, 6:05 p.m., Sunday, 12:35 p.m., FSW

Also this week for the Angels: A 10-game road trip ends at Chicago White Sox, Monday and Tuesday, 5:10 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 11:10 a.m., FSW. The White Sox’s Chris Sale (3-0, 2.35) is scheduled to pitch against the Angels on Wednesday against Garrett Richards (0-2, 3.57).

NO. 8: TENNIS: 116th OJAI VALLEY TOURNAMENT

Details/TV: Tuesday-Sunday, at Ojai Athletic Club and Ojai Valley I

The Thursday night BBQ honors 85-year-old Gle Bassett and 76-year-old Dick Leach, past Ojai champions and retired coaches at UCLA and USC. The Sunday final for the women’s (9:30 a.m.) and men’s (11:30 a.m.) open singles division are interspersed with crowning the wiers of the Pac-12 women singles (8 a.m.) and doubles (1 p.m.), as well as the juniors, Division III college, independent college, community college and CIF play. ATP Tour pro, Ojai resident and 2015 men’s open singles ruer-up Lester Cook retus to the men’s open field, as well as high schoolers Brandon Holt (son of former champ Tracy Austin) and Riley Smith (son of USC men’s coach Peter Smith). More info at this link.

NO. 9: MLS: GALAXY vs. REAL SALT LAKE

Details/TV: At StubHub Center, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., TWCS

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said it about Giovani dos Santos after his two-goal game in a win Friday against Houston, and whether he’s getting closer to being physically fit: “He’s missed a fair amount of the early part of the season. It’s going to take some time, but he’s working hard. If we get some consistent games over the next month or two, he’s going to be in some good form.” After a 3 win, 2 draw, 1 loss mark not quite two months into the season, the Galaxy face a Salt Lake team bunched up with them behind Dallas and K.C. in the Weste Conference.

NO. 10: UFC 197

Details/TV: At MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Saturday, 7 p.m., pay per view ($60)

Jon “Bones” Jones and Ovince Saint Preux are the headliners in the interim light heavyweight title bout. Looking ahead: UFC 198 (May 14 in Brazil), UFC 199 (June 4 at the Forum in Inglewood), UFC 200 (July 9 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with McGregor-Diaz II) ... And maybe UFC 205 (Nov. 12 in New York City’s Madison Square Garden, which could mark the retu of Ronda Rousey). More info at this link.