The LA Kings are at a crossroads, and tonight’s game against the Calgary Flames could be pivotal. Coming off the Olympic break, the Kings hoped for a fresh start, especially with the addition of Artemi Panarin.
Yet, the team has stumbled, suffering back-to-back losses against key divisional rivals. Coach Jim Hiller described the recent performance as a “smacking,” but it feels more like a wake-up call for a team known for its defensive prowess.
Thursday’s game was particularly rough, with the Kings giving up eight goals at home. This followed a collapse against Vegas, where a 2-1 lead turned into a five-goal third-period downfall. Clearly, something has to change if they want to reverse their fortunes and make a playoff push.
Tonight, the Flames present another challenge, and the Kings need a full team effort to secure a win. With the NHL Trade Deadline looming, GM Ken Holland might be hesitant to make further moves unless the team shows significant improvement. Winning the next three games convincingly could shift that narrative.
In terms of lineup, there’s uncertainty. Drew Doughty and Joel Armia left the last game with injuries, possibly due to fatigue from their Olympic commitments.
Sammy Helenius might return after being a healthy scratch, but Andrei Kuzmenko’s status remains uncertain. Coach Hiller’s pregame comments will be crucial in clarifying these lineup decisions.
The Kings are on a five-game losing streak this month, and any playoff hopes are slipping away. A change in mindset, strategy, or personnel is needed-urgently. Without a coaching change, the team must find solutions internally.
Statistically Speaking
- Adrian Kempe is on a six-game home point streak against Calgary, the longest in Kings history since Luc Robitaille’s eight-game streak from 1993-1999.
- Anze Kopitar has 61 career points against the Flames, tied with Patrick Kane for third among active players, trailing only Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
- Goalie Darcy Kuemper has an impressive record against Calgary, with an 8-3-2 record, a .949 save percentage, and a 1.77 GAA in 14 starts. His stats are among the best for active goalies against the Flames.
- Drew Doughty has 32 points in 60 games against the Flames, second only to Brent Burns among active defensemen.
- Corey Perry and Anze Kopitar rank second and third in games played against the Flames among active players, behind only Brent Burns.
Kings Projected Lineup vs. Flames
- Panarin - Laferriere - Kempe
- Byfield - Kopitar - Perry
- Moore - Turcotte - Armia
- Foegele - Helenius - Ward
Defense:
- Anderson - Doughty
- Edmundson - Clarke
- Dumoulin - Ceci
Goalies:
- Forsberg (starter)
- Kuemper
Likely scratches include Kuzmenko, Malott, and Moverare.
How to Watch the Game
The game starts at 4:00 pm Pacific Time on FanDuel Sports, with a radio feed on the ESPN LA app. Stay updated on FanDuel’s broadcasting changes, as these could affect LA’s season coverage.
Across the Ice
Calgary enters the game following a 4-1 win over San Jose. Their lineup from that match included:
- Sharangovich - Backlund - Coronato
- Zary - Kadri - Farabee
- Coleman - Frost - Gridin
- Lomberg - Beecher - Klapka
Defense:
- Kuznetsov - Weegar
- Bahl - Whitecloud
- Hanley - Parekh
Goaltender:
- Wolf
The Kings need to dig deep and find that spark to turn their season around. Tonight’s game is an opportunity to do just that.