Kings at Flames
The Calgary Flames have climbed into first place in the tight Pacific Division and they are intent on staying there for a while as the last-place Los Angeles Kings pay a visit Friday night. The Flames are 4-1-1 in their last six contests after dropping a 4-3 decision in overtime against Dallas on Wednesday and will be looking to duplicate the defensive effort from the 1-0 shutout of the Kings on Nov. 10.
Calgary was not at its best against the Stars as they coughed up a one-goal lead in the third period and allowed a goal 24 seconds into overtime with Dallas playing the second of a back-to-back in Western Canada. “We’re fortunate to get a point out of the game,” Flames coach Bill Peters told reporters Wednesday. “I didn’t think we were very good. I didn’t think our attention to detail was very good and our commitment to doing it right wasn’t where it needs to be to get two points.” The Kings had matched a season high with two straight wins before falling 3-2 at Edmonton on Thursday, allowing the winning goal on the power play with 2:20 left in the contest. The game marked the return of former Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Quick in goal after he sat out more than a month with a knee injury, but it’s uncertain whether the 32-year-old will be between the pipes in the second of a back-to-back.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet West (Calgary)
ABOUT THE KINGS (9-15-1): Jeff Carter ended an 11-game goal drought with his fifth of the season Thursday and fellow veteran forward Dustin Brown registered his fifth tally in the last three games to increase his total to eight. Captain Anze Kopitar notched a pair of assists in the setback and has eight points over the past four contests to push his team-leading total to 17 while defenseman Drew Doughty moved into second with 15 after posting his team-best 13th assist. Veteran forward Ilya Kovalchuk, signed as a free agent in the offseason, has not recorded a point in the last 11 games but had four shots Thursday.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (14-9-2): Left wing Johnny Gaudreau scored Wednesday and has three goals to go along with six assists over the last six games to take over the team lead with 28 points. Left wing Matthew Tkachuk has not made the scoresheet in the last three games after recording eight points in the previous four, including four of his 12 goals - one behind team leader Sean Monahan. Mark Giordano had a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s loss, giving him four multi-point efforts in the last seven games, and boasts a plus-12 rating - second behind fellow defenseman T.J. Brodie (plus-16) on the team.
OVERTIME
1. The Kings have allowed seven power-play goals in 14 opportunities over the last five games.
2. Calgary F Elias Lindholm had an assist for his 24th point Wednesday and is slated to play his 400th NHL game Friday.
3. Los Angeles assigned veteran G Peter Budaj to Ontario of the American Hockey League Thursday to make room for Quick.