Photo Credit: Hockey Royalty
Back at it tonight. After falling 4-3 in a shootout against the Oilers on Wednesday, the LA Kings will look to get back into the win column against a Calgary Flames team that is offensively gifted and defensively stout.
Edmonton is idle on Thursday, so a win today would extend the Kings’ second-place lead to three points while closing the gap on the first-place Flames.
Tale of the Tape
Power-play:
LAK: 16.8% (28th)
CGY: 23.8% (8th)
Penalty Kill:
LAK: 75.7% (23rd)
CGY: 83.7% (5th)
Faceoffs:
LAK: 53.2% (5th)
CGY: 51.6% (8th)
Goals per game:
LAK: 2.84 (20th)
CGY: 3.49 (6th)
Goals against per game:
LAK: 2.81 (9th)
CGY: 2.46 (2nd)
Top scorers:
LAK: Anze Kopitar – 17 goals, 40 assists, 57 points
CGY: Johnny Gaudreau – 30 goals, 60 assists, 90 points
Betting Odds
The Kings come into this one as MASSIVE underdogs, per our sponsors at DraftKings.
Use Promo Code: THPN
- Kings Odds: +235
- Flames Odds: -300
- Over/Under: 6.0
- Time: 6:00 pm PT
- Broadcast Info: SNW, BSW, ESPN+
Projected Lineups
Here’s how the Kings aligned in Wednesday’s shootout loss to the Oilers.
Tonight's @LAKings Line Rushes (Looks Like 11/7) –
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 31, 2022
Iafallo – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Vilardi – Byfield – Kupari
Grundstrom – Kaliyev
Maatta – Stecher
Bjornfot – Durzi
Moverare – Spence
Edler
Quick
Petersen
The Kings opted to go with 11 forwards and seven defensemen to limit the odd-man rushes for the Oilers. Lias Andersson made the trip, but he was a healthy scratch on Wednesday. I wonder if he draws back in at the 4C for a more traditional look against a high-powered offense in the Flames.
Jonathan Quick got a lot of work last night, stopping 30-of-33 shots with many of those less than five feet from the net. He was often sprawling to account for these crafty Oilers forwards. That said, I think it makes sense that the Kings break their two-game goalie rotation and give Cal Petersen the start in Calgary.
In three career games against the Flames, Petersen is 1-2-0 with a .924 SV% and 2.71 GAA.
Also, something worth keeping an eye on – will Alex Edler start in back-to-back games? After coming back from not playing for three months, Edler needed a couple of games to catch his breath.
Here were Calgary’s starters in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Colorado:
Backs and the boys getting us going vs. the Avs! pic.twitter.com/TGhIicybjQ
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) March 30, 2022
Markstrom has been an absolute tank in net this season. The 32-year-old is 31-13-7 with a .925 SV% and 2.16 GAA in 52 games played this season. Oh, and he also leads the National Hockey League with nine shutouts.
In his previous start against the Kings back in December, Markstrom stopped 40-of-42 shots.
LA will also get a look at a few old friends, namely Tyler Toffoli, who has nine goals and 18 points in 21 games since being acquired.
The LA Kings and Calgary Flames will get underway from the Saddledome, with puck drop set for 6 pm PT.
LA Kings sign defenseman Kim Nousiainen to three-year ELC