Flames look to build on their longest winning streak of the season against a Kings squad that has struggled at home
Flames (14-14-5) at the Los Angeles Kings (18-7-4)
The Flames are riding their first three-game winning streak of the season, and coming off Thursday’s 3-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the first part of this two-game trip to Southern California to conclude the pre-holiday season portion of the schedule.
Calgary has posted a decent 7-5-2 record with one outing remaining on the 15-game gauntlet. The Flames will finish that stretch above the NHL’s standard for a .500 record. They must either win or lose in extra time to be .500 or better on the season at the break
The Kings have the fifth best winning percentage in the league, but that’s in huge part due to their road success (13-1-1). At home, Los Angeles boasts a substandard 5-6-3 record. The Kings have lost two straight games at the Crypto.com Arena, and have only two wins in their last six games (2-3-1)
Here’s a look at Calgary’s expected lineup:
Forwards:
Andrew Mangiapane-Elias Lindholm-Yegor Sharangovich
Jonathan Huberdeau-Mikael Backlund-Blake Coleman
Connor Zary-Nazem Kadri-Martin Pospisil
A.J. Greer-Adam Ruzicka-Dillon Dube
Extra: Walker Duehr
Defence:
MacKenzie Weegar-Rasmus Andersson
Noah Hanifin-Chris Tanev
Dennis Gilbert-Nick DeSimone
Extra: Jordan Oesterle
Goal:
Jacob Markstrom
Dan Vladar
Markstrom has a career 10-4-4 career record against Los Angeles with a 2.85 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. Vladar’s career record against the Kings is 0-0-1 with a 4.32 goals-against average and .867 save percentage.
Here is the expected roster for the Kings:
Forwards:
Quinton Byfield-Anze Kopitar-Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala-Phillip Danault-Trevor Moore
Alex Laferriere-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Arthur Kaliyev
Carl Grundstrom-Blake Lizotte-Trevor Lewis
Extra: Jaret Anderson-Dolan
Defence:
Mikey Anderson-Drew Doughty
Jacob Moverare-Matt Roy
Andreas Englund-Jordan Spence
Extra: Tobias Bjornfot
Goal:
Cam Talbot
David Rittich
Talbot has a 9-5-0 mark against the Flames (two shutouts), 2.54 GAA and .916 SvPct. Rittich has a career 0-0-2 record, with a 4.34 GAA and .848 SvPct.
ICE CHIPS: Kings D Vladislav Gavrikov missed the last four games due to injury and is close to returning, but is not expected to suit up … The Kings against Pacific Division foes have a 4-1-1 mark. Calgary has a 5-2-1 record in divisional games ...Kings C Anze Kopitar's 54 career points (30-25-54) against the Flames is the fourth most among active skaters behind Joe Pavelski (20-42-62), Patrick Kane (24-33-57) and Leon Draisaitl (10-45-55) … Do the Kings have buyer’s remorse for the trade that brought Pierre-Luc Dubois from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and the Montreal Canadiens’ second-round pick in 2024? Dubois, who signed an eight-year, $68-million contract after the swap, has five goals and 12 points in 29 games. Vilardi has six goals and 12 points in his last five games. After missing 18 games due to an injury suffered against the Kings, Vilardi has collected 15 points in 14 games. Iafallo also has 15 points …