The Los Angeles Kings will host the Calgary Flames tonight at Staples Center. It’s the seventh straight game at home for the Kings; the last in the homestand before the Kings take to the road. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PST.
The Kings are coming off a shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night. After being down 3-2 to start the third period the Kings were able to score and force overtime. L.A. couldn’t finish in the shootout, going 0-3; while Jakob Silfverberg scored on a wrist shot in the second round to give the Ducks the go-ahead goal and the victory.
L.A. is 1-2-3 in the first six games of the seven game homestand. Prior to the homestand the Kings were 14-4-2 on home ice. The Kings are now 15-6-5.
Despite being tied with the Flames at 51 points, the Kings have slid to 5th place in the Pacific Division. L.A. is tied for 8th place in the Western Conference with the Flames.
Calgary has a record of 24-18-3, while the Kings record has slipped to 20-14-11.
Puck Prose
In the first two of five meetings this season the Flames have emerged victorious both times. On December 22nd, Calgary won 4-3 in overtime. On December 29th, Calgary limited the Kings to one goal, winning 2-1 in regulation.
The Kings lineup is expected to be as follows:
Forwards:
Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Dustin Brown – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis
Dwight King – Nick Shore – Jeff Carter
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Jordan Nolan
Defensemen:
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Robyn Regehr – Alec Martinez
Brayden McNabb – Matt Greene
Goaltenders:
Jonathan Quick
Jean-Francois Berube
Quick should make the start for the Kings. With Kings regular goaltender Martin Jones sidelined by back-spasms J.F. Berube has been called-up to back up Quick.
Berube has played well in the American Hockey League for the Manchester Monarchs. In 27 games this season Berube is 19-4-3 with a 2.05 goals against average, and a .920 save percentage.
In 37 games this season Quick is 16-11-9. Quick has 3 shutouts, a 2.47 goals against average and a .912 save percentage.
Nick Shore will make his second appearance in a Kings uniform. Against Anaheim Shore registered 1 hit, 1 shot on goal, 10:35 of ice time, and 1:03 of ice time on the power-play.
In a side-note Nick’s brother Drew was a recent call-up to the Flames. It’s not likely, as Drew Shore was scratched in Calgary’s 4-3 overtime win over the San Jose Sharks, but there could be a brother vs. brother matchup in a Pacific division rivalry.
With Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli sidelined for the next few weeks the Kings need call-ups like Shore to step up and score. Shore had 20 goals, 41 points, and a +22 plus/minus rating in 37 games for Manchester.
The Deadly Duo of Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar are back to their old ways of tearing it up on the ice, and in the point charts.
In Kopitar’s last 14 games, going back to the Kings game on December 16th against the St. Louis Blues, Kopitar has 5 goals and 20 points. Kopitar now leads the Kings in points with 11 goals and 35 points in 42 games.
Flame for Thought
Gaborik has 15 goals and 25 points in 32 games this season. Gaborik is currently on a 4-game point streak; in his last 4 games Gaborik has 3 goals and 2 assists.
The Deadly Duo must continue to produce if the Kings are going to be successful.
Flames players to keep an eye on:
Johnny Gadreau is a 21-year-old rookie sensation for Calgary. Gadreau is on the left-wing of the Flames top line. In 44 games this season Gadreau has 13 goals, 33 points and a +10 plus/minus rating.
Gadreau is quick with his feet, his hands and the puck. He makes quick moves, and what’s worse from the Kings defensive perspective, quick decisions with the puck. In 2 games against the Kings Gadreau has 3 goals and 1 assist. In the Kings game on December 22nd, Gadreau recorded his first career hat-trick, and natural hat-trick, in the third period bringing the Flames back to life, tying the game and giving Calgary the opportunity to win in overtime.
Defensemen T.J. Brodie is in his fourth season with the Flames. Brodie has been a big part of Calgary’s success this season. The 24-year-old stands at 6’1, 182 pounds. Brodie is can use his big frame to separate opponents from the puck.
Brodie’s also good at moving the puck and manning the point on the power-play. In 45 games this season Brodie has 8 goals, 21 assists, 29 points, including 3 power-play goals, and a team leading +22 rating. The Kings will have to be aware when both young Brodie, and youngster Gadreau are on the ice.
It will be another tough battle between two Pacific Division teams. The Kings are 7-2-5 against teams in the Pacific this season, which seems like a good record, but is actually the 2nd fewest wins only to the Edmonton Oilers. Meanwhile, Calgary is 13-3-1 against the Pacific, the most wins in the division.
Hopefully the Kings can overcome the trend tonight and get their first win against the Flames tonight.
Go Kings Go!