5 THINGS - FLAMES VS. KINGS
The Flames close out their homestand tonight against their divisional foes
Video: Quick homestand wraps up tonight against Kings
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GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Over with Brendan Parker
Pregame Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
'Hell of a Player' - Tanev
Projected Lineup
Say What: 'Be the Best That I Can' - Huberdeau
STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
2021-22 Head-to-Head Stats
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Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Nazem Kadri (12)
Goals - Nazem Kadri (7)
Kings:
Points - Kevin Fiala (16)
Goals - Gabriel Vilardi (10)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 18.8% (23rd) / PK - 82.8% (7th)
Kings:
PP - 19.4% (20th) / PK - 75.4% (25th)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 54.70% (4th)
High-Danger Chances: 53.11% (12th)
Kings:
Shot Attempts: 53.25% (6th)
High-Danger Chances: 55.41% (5th)
After a trip that saw the Flames play solid hockey but not find the results they were looking for, the team returned to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday looking to right the ship.
They did just that.
A 3-2 win over the Jets on Hockey Night In Canada showcased brilliant saves from Jacob Markstrom, a big night for Elias Lindholm and Adam Ruzicka, a short-handed game-winner from Trevor Lewis, and an incredible third period in which the team limited Winnipeg to just four shots on net.
"I thought we tried to keep pressure on them, as much we could, which is important," head coach Darryl Sutter said of the final 20 minutes. "The way the league is now, it's hard to defend and protect leads. You've got to check. It's very simple."
Markstrom made 21 saves in the victory, including a highlight-reel windmill stop on Mark Scheifele.
Video: WPG@CGY: Markstrom makes save on Scheifele
"That was pretty cool. Stacked the pads, that's old school," Chris Tanev, who returned to the lineup after missing five games with an injury, said. "Ron Hextall, maybe? I don't know, definitely in those days. Huge save for us. He made those all night."
Meanwhile, Jonathan Huberdeau returned to the ice for practice Sunday after missing the last few games with an injury. Check out Flames.com's Ryan Dittrick's story here
Video: "I'm ready to go and be the best that I can"
After a 3-5-0 start to the 2022-23 campaign, the Kings have found their groove.
They come into Monday evening's tilt with four straight wins, hold a 6-1-1 record in their last eight, and sit second in the Pacific Division with a 10-6-1 record. Their last outing was a 4-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, a game in which Sean Durzi scored a pair of goals and Arthur Kaliyec and Phillip Danault each collected a couple of assists.
The Kings were able to grab a 4-1 lead through the opening two periods, including Carl Grundstrom scoring the second-fastest goal in Kings history just nine seconds in, but the Red Wings came back to pull within a goal with a pair of tallies in the third period.
"It's a hard game when you score right away, like you don't want your teammates to get flat and think it's going to be an easy game," Danault told NHL.com. "Almost was good that they score back after and got us right back in the game, and we just kept playing our game for 60 minutes solid, so I'm really proud of our boys tonight."
The Kings lost forward Brendan Lemieux in the win after he was injured checking Red Wings forward Adam Erne in the second period. He has since been placed on the injured reserve.
MILESTONE NIGHT: Nikita Zadorov will play in his 500th career game tonight. The defenceman has 30 goals and 109 points in his first 499 games.
TWO BY TWO BY TWO: Three players are just a couple of points or goals away from personal milestones: Nazem Kadri needs two assists for 300, MacKenzie Weegar is two assists shy of 100, and Tyler Toffoli is two goals away from 200.
HUBY DOOBY DOO: Jonathan Huberdeau (199 goals, 420 assists, 619 points in 682 career games) is one goal from becoming the eighth player from the 2011 NHL Draft to score 200. The winger, who has missed three games with an injury, skated with the team on Sunday and is expected to be in the lineup tonight. "I felt great this morning," he said on Sunday. "I obviously needed a couple of days."
SHORT-HANDED STAR: Mikael Backlund set up Trevor Lewis' short-handed goal on Saturday, which marked his 26th career short-handed point, which ranks second in franchise history. This season, the Swede has one short-handed goal and two short-handed points.
Flames - Adam Ruzicka
The 23-year-old is coming off a tremendous performance against the Jets on Saturday, which saw him set up Elias Lindholm's opening tally and then score his first goal of the season shortly afterwards. Skating on a line with Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli the past two games, the youngster is expected to flank the veterans once again tonight.
Ruzicka, the Flames' fourth-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, now has three points through four games this season.
Kings - Kevin Fiala
Kevin Fiala's first season in LA is off to a strong start.
After being traded to LA from Minnesota in the off-season, the forward signed a seven-year deal with the Kings on July 5. In his first 17 skates with LA, he's posted 16 points and is heading into tonight's game with a two-game scoring streak, which includes an OT game-winner against Chicago on Nov. 10.
Huberdeau on skating alongside Mikael Backlund and Trevor Lewis on Sunday:
"We're just going to keep things simple and get some shots on net, some traffic, and try to score some goals."
On missing the last three games with an injury:
"It's not easy. I want to help the team and I thought my last game was a little better, I think I was going in the right direction. Obviously not being out there with the guys, they work hard every day and it's always tough not to be there for them. Now I'm ready to go tomorrow."
