Flames at Kings
The Los Angeles Kings have gone past regulation in four straight games and came out on the short end three times, including a 3-2 shootout loss at San Jose on Wednesday. Los Angeles is riding an 11-game point streak (7-0-4) into Saturday's home game against the Calgary Flames, with its only regulation defeat this month coming against Nashville on Nov. 2. "We're going in the right direction, getting points, but we also feel like we can play a little bit better," Kings center Anze Kopitar said.
Going beyond regulation is usually a positive thing for the Flames, who have lost 10 of 13 (3-8-2) in November - with their only three victories coming in overtime or a shootout. Defenseman Dennis Wideman is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a broken hand and standout rookie Sean Monahan is dealing with a fractured foot. "We don't want to make any excuses with injuries," Flames defenseman Ladislav Smid said. "Every team goes through that, and other guys just have to step up and be leaders."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, CBC, FSN West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE FLAMES (8-13-4): The 18-year-old Monahan, the No. 6 overall pick in the June draft who was injured in Wednesday's loss to Chicago, is tied for the team lead in goals (nine) and is second on the squad with 15 points in 24 games. Reto Berra, who has started the last eight games in net, gave up five goals in Friday's loss to Anaheim before giving way to Karri Ramo, who will get the start on Saturday. Ramo has not started since a 4-2 loss in Colorado on Nov. 8 and is 2-4-1 on the season.
ABOUT THE KINGS (16-6-4): An inability to generate consistent offense is plaguing Los Angeles, which has scored only six goals during its 1-0-3 stretch and been limited to two goals or fewer in five of the last seven games. One problem has been the ineffectiveness of the power play, which came up empty on four chances against San Jose and has connected on just three of the last 35 opportunities. With Jeff Carter back from injury, the unit could receive a boost - he scored eight goals with the man advantage in 48 games last season.
OVERTIME
1. Los Angeles outscored the Flames 12-4 in winning all three meetings last season.
2. One of Ramo's two wins was a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles on Oct. 21.
3. Kopitar has scored 10 goals in 28 games versus Calgary.