Preview: Calgary Flames @ LA Kings 2/12/20 (58/82): Two Teams, Two Different Directions

Calgary Flames @ LA Kings, 8:00 PM MT, Staples Center, Los Angeles CA

TV: NBCSN, SN1 – Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 29-22-6 (64 pts) – LA Kings 19-33-5 (43 Points)

NHL Standings

The Flames third game of a four game road trip sees them making a stop in LA to take on the Kings Wednesday night. The Flames have won two in a row and done it with an outburst of goal scoring. In games against the Canucks and Sharks Calgary has scored 12 times, six in each game and the scoring has come from all different directions. Milan Lucic and Tobias Rieder have goals in back to back games. Zac Rinaldo and Mark Jankowski each have a goal. Mikael Backlund broke a 13 game scoring slump. So the offence from the bottom six is clicking, now it just needs to get rolling from the top.

The Kings have a streak going as well, just not in the right direction. LA’s miserable season is continuing to get worse as they have dropped six in a row and are 1-8-1 in their last 10 skates. LA is dead last in the Western Conference with 43 points, a herculean nine behind 14th place San Jose. The only team worse than the Kings is Detroit and their lowly 32 points. It’s safe to say that playing the spoiler isn’t really in the cards for the Kings as they are 30th overall in GF with 137. All that’s left for this poor franchise is to eulogize this season and move on.

Despite all the LA negativity, the Kings have taken 2 out of 3 from the Flames so far this season. The Kings beat the Flames back on October 8th 4-3 in OT, 4-1 on October 19th and Calgary returned the favour by the score of 4-3 on December 7th. Calgary is 4-1-0 in their last five trips to Staples Center.

Starting Goalies

Flames: Rittich (Expected) 22-14-5, 2.84 GAA, .910 SV%

Kings: Quick (Expected) 11-22-3, 3.05 GAA, .895 SV%

Team Leaders

Flames – Goals: Lindholm (22), Points: Tkachuk (45), PIM: Tkachuk (61), Save%: Talbot (.919)

Kings – Goals: Kopitar (17), Points: Kopitar (47), PIM: Clifford (45), Save%: Campbell (.900)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

LA Kings Coverage: Jewels From The Crown

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 6 – San Jose Sharks 2

LA Kings 1 – NY Rangers 4

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Milan Lucic (F): 5 points in last 2 games

LA Kings

Tyler Toffoli (F): 2 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson