Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames vs Los Angeles Kings game preview: Go Johnny go
Just one week ago, the Flames stunned the Kings, and probably made their Christmases a little sadder than they would've been otherwise. Let's hope they aren't given the chance to take vengeance tonight.
The Calgary Flames are having a much better time as of late. Following a sad eight-game losing streak, they’ve turned it around, winning the last two in quick, stunning fashion. Tonight is their second game against the Los Angeles Kings, having just faced them for the first time this season only one week ago. The Kings looked to be cruising their way to a happy Christmas break with a 3-0 victory, but that’s when Johnny Gaudreau struck, improbably tying up the game. And then Mark Giordano sent them home to a sad Christmas. So… they’re probably looking for revenge now.
But that was two games ago. Last game was pretty good, too! The Flames took advantage of less-than-stellar Edmonton Oilers goaltending and defence. Joe Colborne scored his first of the year, and Gaudreau cemented it with two goals in 16 seconds. A late Matt Stajan-to-Curtis Glencross goal cemented things as they won, 4-1. | Recap | Stats recap | Boxscore | Go Johnny go:
The Kings have only played once since their overtime loss to the Kings: a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, the same night the Flames quickly scored three on the Oilers. The Sharks took just over two minutes to score, but after that, the Kings completely took over. Goals every period by Tyler Toffoli, Anze Kopitar, and Jake Muzzin saw them get back in the win column, while Jonathan Quick stopped 21 of 22 shots. Kopitar was the only one to score more than one point that game, and is definitely someone to look out for: he’s riding a five-game point streak, and has put up 11 points in that time. Uh oh.
Jewels From The Crown has more on the Kings for your reading pleasure!
Game time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Channel: SNW
All-time record: It has improved a touch! From 125-97-21-4, to 126-97-21-4, what with last week's win and all. The overtime win means the Flames' goal differential against the Kings is now +98. Come onnnn triple digits.
Common threads: The remaining connection between the Kings and Flames remains Robyn Regehr, who is still on injured reserve. Some extra-league connections: backup goalie Martin Jones spent his junior time with the Calgary Hitmen, and from 2010-12, Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan were teammates on the Ottawa 67’s.
Approaching milestones: Jonas Hiller has now played 19,761 minutes in his career. That’s about four full games off from 20,000, which is, well, a lot. If Hiller’s starting streak keeps up, he’ll get there very, very soon.
Current records and leaders
| Calgary Flames | Los Angeles Kings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-15-3: 41 points | 18-11-7: 43 points | ||||
| Pacific Division: 5th | Pacific Division: 3rd | ||||
| Western Conference: 9th | Western Conference: 7th | ||||
| Time on ice | |||||
| Defence: TJ Brodie (24:56 per game) Forward: Sean Monahan (19:29 per game) |
Defence: Drew Doughty (29:08 per game) Forward: Anze Kopitar (18:59 per game) |
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| Points | |||||
| Goals: Jiri Hudler (13) Assists: Mark Giordano (25) Points: Mark Giordano (35) |
Goals: Tyler Toffoli Marian Gaborik Tanner Pearson (11) Assists: Drew Doughty (18) Points: Jeff Carter (27) |
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| Shots | |||||
| Shots on goal: Sean Monahan (98) Shooting percentage: Josh Jooris (19.5%) |
Shots on goal: Drew Doughty (98) Shooting percentage: Jamie McBain (22.2%) |
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| Faceoff Leaders | |||||
| Sean Monahan (50.2%, 803 taken) | Jeff Carter (55.8%, 489 taken) | ||||
| Grit | |||||
| Penalty minutes: Brandon Bollig (40) Hits: Lance Bouma (107) Blocked shots: Kris Russell (111) |
Penalty minutes: Matt Greene (38) Hits: Robyn Regehr (104) Blocked shots: Drew Doughty (63) |
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| Corsi/Fenwick (minimum 1/2 team’s games played) | |||||
| Corsi for%: Jiri Hudler (48.1%, 36 GP) Mark Giordano (48.0%, 37 GP) Fenwick for%: Paul Byron (49.4%, 37 GP) Josh Jooris (49.4%, 28 GP) Johnny Gaudreau (49.4%, 36 GP) |
Corsi for%: Trevor Lewis (58.9%, 27 GP) Marian Gaborik (58.7%, 24 GP) Fenwick for%: Trevor Lewis (59.1%, 27 GP) Marian Gaborik (57.7%, 24 GP) |
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Possible starting lineups
| Calgary Flames | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing | |||
| Curtis Glencross | Sean Monahan | David Jones | |||
| Johnny Gaudreau | Markus Granlund | Jiri Hudler | |||
| Mason Raymond | Joe Colborne | Paul Byron | |||
| Brandon Bollig | Matt Stajan | Lance Bouma | |||
| Left Defense | Right Defense | ||||
| Mark Giordano | TJ Brodie | ||||
| Kris Russell | Dennis Wideman | ||||
| Raphael Diaz | Deryk Engelland | ||||
| Goalies | |||||
| Jonas Hiller | |||||
| Karri Ramo | |||||
| Los Angeles Kings | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing | |||
| Marian Gaborik | Anze Kopitar | Jeff Carter | |||
| Dustin Brown | Jarret Stoll | Justin Williams | |||
| Tanner Pearson | Trevor Lewis | Tyler Toffoli | |||
| Kyle Clifford | Mike Richards | Dwight King | |||
| Left Defense | Right Defense | ||||
| Jake Muzzin | Drew Doughty | ||||
| Alec Martinez | Matt Greene | ||||
| Brayden McNabb | Jamie McBain | ||||
| Goalies | |||||
| Jonathan Quick | |||||
| Martin Jones | |||||
The Flames lineup looks the same, as Jonas Hiller gets his fifth consecutive start, and Josh Jooris remains day-to-day with an upper body injury.
by Ari Yanover
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