Kings at Flames
Thanks to a string of success that dates back to the end of December, the Calgary Flames have moved past the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division. The Flames look to extend their point streak to 10 games and push three points ahead of the Kings when the rivals face off at Scotiabank Saddledome on Wednesday.
Calgary, which is wrapping up a three-game homestand, has gone 7-0-2 since being edged 2-1 at Anaheim on Dec. 29. It dropped 2-1 decisions in each of the first two contests in its own building, falling to Winnipeg in a shootout on Saturday to end its seven-game winning streak and to Buffalo in overtime two nights later. The Kings halted their six-game slide Sunday with a 4-2 home victory over the New York Rangers but went back to their losing ways Tuesday, beginning their four-game road trip with a 6-2 setback at Vancouver. Captain Anze Kopitar scored his team-leading 19th goal and added an assist in the loss for Los Angeles, which is 0-1-1 against Calgary this season.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet360 (Calgary)
ABOUT THE KINGS (25-18-5): Kopitar is two points shy of matching last season's total of 52 and one goal away from reaching 20 for the ninth time in his career. The 30-year-old Slovenian has landed on the scoresheet in eight of his last nine contests, registering two tallies and eight assists in that span. Defenseman Drew Doughty has notched three assists in his last two games but has not recorded a goal in nine contests, keeping him one shy of 100 for his career.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (25-16-6): Johnny Gaudreau notched an assist against the Sabres, giving him 14 points during the team's nine-game streak. The 24-year-old left wing, who leads Calgary with 55 points, has been kept off the scoresheet for more than two consecutive contests only once this season - a three-game stretch from Nov. 25-30. Matthew Tkachuk also has contributed offensively during the Flames' streak, registering six goals - including his career-high 14th of the season in the loss to Buffalo - and four assists.
OVERTIME
1. Flames C Sean Monahan has gone two games without a point following a six-game streak during which he collected four goals and six assists.
2. Kings D Jake Muzzin has registered a goal and five assists during his six-game point streak.
3. Calgary has gone 3-0-2 in its last five home games, including a 4-3 victory over Los Angeles on Jan. 4.