[GDT] Kings @ Flames 7pm MT SNW / SN960

[SmoggyFlamesFan]

Source: calgaryflames.com

Time to build off that shutout win vs. Vancouver and keep it rolling against a Kings team that features one of the biggest personal rivalries in the NHL: Drew Pouty and Matthew Tkachuk. Should be a fiery affair tonight (no pun intended). Will be going to the game! GFG!

Record vs. Kings:125-99-22-5

Last 10 vs. Kings:6-3-1-0

2018-19 Season Series:3-1-0-0

2018-19 Flames Home Record:26-10-5

2018-19 Kings Road Record:14-21-6

Leading Scorers:

Flames:

Points -Johnny Gaudreau(5)
Goals - Gaudreau,Sean Monahan(2)

Kings:

Points - Anze Kopitar (3)
Goals - Kopitar and four others tied (1)

Advanced Stats:

Flames:

Shot Attempts: 51.52% (11th)
High-Danger Chances: 54.17% (11th)

Kings:

Shot Attempts: 52.63% (10th)
High-Danger Chances: 47.37% (18th)




1. US

The Flames recorded their first win of the campaign, beating the visiting Vancouver Canucks 3-0 at the Scotiabank Home-Opener on Saturday night. David Rittich got the shutout, stopping all 34 shots he faced. Gaudreau - who tallied 99 points last season - continued to have a hot hand, setting up linemates Monahan and Elias Lindholm before potting a late empty-netter.

"It's great. You always want to get off to a good start," said Gaudreau. "Not only individually, but as a team. We've found the net a couple times. Powerplay's been clicking. ... It was a good game tonight. … I think I could have found the net a couple more times. Same with Mony, same with Lindy. We had a ton of chances."

Head coach Bill Peters is expecting his team to play more disciplined against the Kings, saying after the win against Vancouver: "We took too many penalties. We took 10 minutes in penalties in Game 1, 10 again tonight. It's too much. There are three in a row and they shift the momentum of the game. We've got to get that dialled in and we will."



2. THEM

The Kings opened the season with a high-scoring affair in Edmonton Saturday night, falling 6-5 to the Oilers. Former Flame James Neal scored twice in the tilt - including the game-winner in the third period, where the Oilers outscored the Kings 3-2 to seal the victory. Connor McDavid finished with a goal and four assists. Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Trevor Lewis, Drew Doughty and Michael Amadio scored for the visitors. Jonathan Quick made 25 saves in the loss.

"You can't give up six goals and expect to win the game, that's not going to happen very often," said Kopitar. "Obviously, scoring five goals, that's encouraging, but at the same time, we have to clean up on the defensive side of things and make sure that six was just a case of first game of the season."

Doughty, whose tally came on a third-period powerplay, extended his consecutive games played streak to 411, a Kings record.

The Kings finished dead last in the Western Conference last season with a 31-42-9 record. They sported a minus-61 goal differential, scoring just 202 times. Only the Anaheim Ducks - with 199 - were worse.



3. US vs THEM

This is the first of four matchups this season between the Flames and Kings. These two teams played each other four times a season ago with the Flames winning all but one matchup in the season series while outscoring the Kings 12-6 … This another divisional matchup. The Flames finished last season with a record of 16-11-2 against Pacific opponents.



4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER

THIS: Following the tilt with the Kings, the Flames head out for a three-game road swing through Dallas, Vegas and San Jose. It's part of a busy month where they play 15 games (six home, nine away) ... THAT: Monahan and Gaudreau have now combined on 133 goals since the start of the 2016-17 season ... THE OTHER: The first of Gaudreau's three hat-tricks in his NHL career came against the Kings on December 22, 2014.



5. PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flames: G David Rittich

Big Save Dave got the goose egg against the Canucks coming off the team's season-opening loss to the Avs in Denver, where he allowed four tallies. The affable and outgoing 'tender said he's feeling confident in his game right now.

Kings: C Anze Kopitar

The captain will be playing in his 1,005th game (313G,578 A, 891PTS) and remains one of the Kings' biggest threats on offence.

[Toonage]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1181607633331073024

tonight vs. Los Angeles:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Bennett
Lucic-Ryan-Mangiapane
Rieder-Jankowski-Frolik

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

Rittich

[GioforPM]

Kings aren't going to score 5 against Calgary. On the other hand, 6 goals by the Oilers seems matchable by the Flames.

I'm hoping line 2 busts out big time. And, if they get an early lead, they don't rest, like against the Canucks. That's what led to the penalties and the evening up of the play.

[Nelson]

Nvm

[SmoggyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Kings aren't going to score 5 against Calgary. On the other hand, 6 goals by the Oilers seems matchable by the Flames.

I'm hoping line 2 busts out big time. And, if they get an early lead, they don't rest, like against the Canucks. That's what led to the penalties and the evening up of the play.

I am thinking Bennett has a big game tonight after his promotion to line 2. I hope he can maintain his spot there.

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by Toonage

https://twitter.com/user/status/1181607633331073024

tonight vs. Los Angeles:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Bennett
Lucic-Ryan-Mangiapane
Rieder-Jankowski-Frolik

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

Rittich

I'm really cheering for Bennett. I hope he does really well.

Also, I'm very happy to see Ryan and Mangiapane reunited. They were so good for the last 30 games of last year's regular season and in the playoffs.

[Timbo]

Originally Posted by SmoggyFlamesFan

I am thinking Bennett has a big game tonight after his promotion to line 2. I hope he can maintain his spot there.

Sam gets a Gordie Howe hat trick tonight!

[djsFlames]

I'm going to wager we dont give up 5 goals to this group.

[WhiteTiger]

Go Flames go!

[The Professor]

Originally Posted by Toonage

https://twitter.com/user/status/1181607633331073024

tonight vs. Los Angeles:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Bennett
Lucic-Ryan-Mangiapane
Rieder-Jankowski-Frolik

Giordano-Brodie
Hanifin-Hamonic
Kylington-Andersson

Rittich

Very excited to see if ‘new-Bennett’ can make hay on the second line. I also thought Mangiapane looked fantastic in the last game, feisty and creative.

[MrMike]

Just one correction, Kopitar has 891 Points, not assists.

[Gaskal]

Will be booing Doughty at the top of my lungs whenever he touches the puck.

[mikephoen]

I'm a little surprised they aren't starting Talbot this game. Rittich will hopefully only have to play 55 or so games in the regular season, so we should see Talbot in more than just back to backs, and the Kings seem like a good team to start building Talbot back up.

[johnnyhockey13]

Hope Doughty gets put into the ice

[DJones]

Come on Bennett, this seems like it could be a turning point.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I'm a little surprised they aren't starting Talbot this game. Rittich will hopefully only have to play 55 or so games in the regular season, so we should see Talbot in more than just back to backs, and the Kings seem like a good team to start building Talbot back up.

Yeah they don't want to Eddie Lack the guy for sure.

But there are back to back games this weekend (Sat/Sun)

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I'm a little surprised they aren't starting Talbot this game. Rittich will hopefully only have to play 55 or so games in the regular season, so we should see Talbot in more than just back to backs, and the Kings seem like a good team to start building Talbot back up.

I actually agree with starting Rittich against the bottom feeders. Do everything you can to try and guarantee the easy 2 points. Start Talbot against middle of the road teams.

Kinda like how teams started using their starter for the weaker team ona back to back

[Toonage]

Had they beaten Colorado I'd bet Talbot would in tonight. Give yourself the best shot to win the games you should and collect those early points.

[joejoe3]

BBT line lol

[Split98]

What a game for Bennett to be lining up with Tkackuk