Game Thread: Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames 4/9/14 | 10:00pm

[Cobiemonster]

vs.

at

Game Time: 10:00pm EST/8:00pm MST - KCOP-13/TSN​

KINGS (45-28-6) at FLAMES (34-38-7)

TV: TSN, KCOP-13

Last 10: Los Angeles 7-3-0; Calgary 6-4-0

Season series: This is the fifth and final game between the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames. They've split the first four, with the road team going undefeated. Flames forward Mike Cammalleri has three goals and four points to lead all scorers, and Calgary goalie Karri Ramo has won both starts with a 1.50 goals-against average and .941 save percentage.

Big story: Each team has three games remaining. The Kings want to snap a two-game losing streak and get on a solid run heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Flames look to extend a three-game winning streak as they return to Scotiabank Saddledome after a successful road trip.

Team Scope:

Kings: While it's the continuation of a four-game road trip, Los Angeles has had three days off since a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. The Kings play again Thursday at the Edmonton Oilers, then return home for their regular-season finale Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Kings are locked into third place in the Pacific Division and are waiting to find out if they'll face the Ducks or San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference First Round. Coach Darryl Sutter believes it's good for his players not to have to battle tooth and nail down to the final days to get into the postseason.

"It's not easy once you've secured [a playoff berth] because if you could do it -- hey, we did it with 10 days left in the schedule or whatever it is. That's what you want to do," coach Darryl Sutter said. "That should be your target … and the sooner you can do it, the better you are in the way the League is now with the schedule. You're way better off."

Flames: With five points in its final three games Calgary could reach 80 for the season, a modest accomplishment yet one that would be a testament to how well the Flames have played during the final few weeks. After winning on consecutive nights in Florida late last week, they arrived at Prudential Center on Monday and blanked a New Jersey Devils team still battling for a playoff spot 1-0, with defenseman Mark Giordano scoring a power-play goal and Ramo stopping 31 shots.

"You're starting to see signs of a little [Miikka Kiprusoff] in him," forward Curtis Glencross said in the Calgary Herald, referencing the Flames goalie of the past decade who retired after the 2012-13 season. "They've got a lot of the same style and they make a lot of the same saves. I almost get flashbacks."

Who's hot: Kings forward Marian Gaborik has one goal and six assists in his past seven games. … Cammalleri has two goals and two assists during a three-game point streak for the Flames. Ramo has won consecutive starts, stopping 62 of 63 shots.

Injury report: Los Angeles defenseman Drew Doughty (shoulder) and forward Dwight King (undisclosed) are day-to-day. … Calgary defensemen Ladislav Smid (upper body) and Tyler Wotherspoon (shoulder) were not in the lineup Monday. Defenseman Dennis Wideman (upper body) and forwards David Jones (shoulder) and Markus Granlund (upper body) are sidelined.

Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames - 04/09/2014

 

[dash]

Too bad there's not much on the line tonight, I enjoy games against the Kings (good measuring stick).

 

[dash]

I'm hearing Quick vs. Ramo is the goalie matchup - Also, no Doughty or Regehr for LA tonight.

 

[davnlaguna]

Kings treating these last few games as preseason. Try some things out and rest some guys.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Flyers West vs Burke's Boys. The Flames have been playing their best hockey of the season when it matters least. I expect a good game, but Quick & the Kings should prevail.

 

[Cobiemonster]

Flames first game back home, they could have a bit of fatigue, who knows - but should be a good game

 

[Cobiemonster]

Go Kings Go!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Galiardi makes it 1-0 Flames

 

[dash]

Glengarry so close to making it 2-0 *ping*

 

[Cobiemonster]

Not much out of this period - Flames leading 1-0

 

[dash]

Moneyhands!!

 

[Cobiemonster]

Flames lead 2-0 - Sean Monahan with the goal

 

[dash]

Stajan!! 3-0 Flames

 

[dash]

Stoll with a nice tip makes it 3-1 (under review)

 

[Cobiemonster]

Wow two quick ones by the Kings

 

[dash]

Ugly turnover and the Kings capitalize. 3-3

 

[Cobiemonster]

Tie game

 

[dash]

We're going to OT at the Saddledome...

 

[dash]

Gimme a break, that's a penalty if not a penalty shot.

 

[dash]

Off to the coin flip.