THE BIG MATCHUP
Flames LW Matthew Tkachuk vs. Kings D Drew Doughty
Really original, we know. But it’s still a battle worth watching. Winger Matthew Tkachuk has been a force for the Flames this season and stood up for his club in a big way when he dropped his mitts with Anaheim Ducks pest Ryan Kesler. His unspoken feud with Kings defenceman Drew Doughty has been well-documented. These clubs are starting to develop a hate for each other, and these two players are part of what makes this rivalry so heated.
FIVE STORYLINES FOR THE GAME
1. PARSONS SUMMONED TO AHL
After the Flames traded G Eddie Lack to the New Jersey Devils, the move made space for Tyler Parsons to play at the American Hockey League level. But recovering from a minor lower body injury suffered in a Dec. 16 game with the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks, Parsons hadn’t been immediately summoned. That changed on Wednesday when he was recalled to the AHL’s Stockton Heat.
2. MAINTENANCE DAYS
A few members of the Calgary Flames were off for a maintenance day on Wednesday, including assistant coach Dave Cameron who was sick with the flu. Also absent from the team’s skate? C Mikael Backlund, RW Jaromir Jagr and RW Micheal Ferland. “You can figure out what is going on in our locker room if Dave Cameron isn’t here today,” said Gulutzan post-practice, dryly referring to the bug going around the team. “We think we’ll be better (Thursday).”
3. HALF-WAY POINT?
Saturday marks the midway point in the Flames season and, given their record so far (19-16-4) and the sky-high expectations in the summertime for this group, their progress has been underwhelming. Their sub-par speciality teams have played a large role in their record, but Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan said improvements are key in that area during the next 41 games. “Our power play and penalty kill have started to come back here,” Gulutzan said. “Those are big steps we need to take in the second half. We don’t like exactly where we are as a group. But the next half of the season, we’re hoping to improve on what we’ve done.”
4. FREDDIE OFF TO ARIZONA
The Flames placed C Freddie Hamilton on waivers, and he was picked up by the Arizona Coyotes. It was the second time this year the older brother of Flames defenceman Dougie was placed on waivers after hitting the waiver wire in November. He played four games in November (registering zero points) and another two in December, but he’s been idle for the past three games.
5. ABOUT THE KINGS
The Kings (24-11-5) are coming off a 5-0 defeat of the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday … They have the best penalty kill in the league, operating at a tidy 87.4% … Oilers F Patrick Maroon was suspended two games his hit to the head on Kings D Drew Doughty in Tuesday’s 5-0 L.A. victory at Rogers Place … The Kings lead the NHL with a .928 team save percentage, split between the work of goalies Jonathan Quick and Darcy Kuemper.
KINGS GAMEDAY LINES
Tanner Pearson-Anze Kopitar-Dustin Brown
Marian Gaborik-Adrian Kempe-Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford-Nick Shore-Trevor Lewis
Andy Andreoff-Torrey Mitchell-Jussi Jokinen
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Jake Muzzin-Drew Doughty
Kurtis MacDermid-Alec Martinez
Derek Forbort-Oscar Fantenberg
GOALIES
Jonathan Quick
Darcy Kemper
FLAMES GAMEDAY LINES
Johnny Gaudreau-Sean Monahan-Micheal Ferland
Matthew Tkachuk-Mikael Backlund-Jaromir Jagr
Sam Bennett-Mark Jankowski-Garnet Hathaway
Troy Brouwer-Matt Stajan-Andrew Mangiapane
DEFENCE PAIRINGS
Mark Giordano-Dougie Hamilton
TJ Brodie-Travis Hamonic
Brett Kulak-Michael Stone
GOALIES
Mike Smith
David Rittich
SPECIAL TEAMS (prior to Wednesday’s action)
POWER PLAY
KINGS: 17.6% (21st)
FLAMES: 18.6% (20th)
PENALTY KILL
KINGS: 87.4% (1st)
FLAMES: 78.0% (25th)
SICK BAY
KINGS
Christian Folin (upper body injury), C Jeff Carter (ankle surgery)
FLAMES
LW Kris Versteeg (hip), RW Michael Frolik (broken jaw)
Calgary Flames vs. Los Angeles Kings
7 p.m. MT, Scotiabank Saddledome, TV: Sportsnet West, Radio: Sportsnet 960 The Fan
— Kristen Odland
