Flash back four days. The Calgary Flames were set to play the LA Kings for game two of their season series. The Kings had lost three of their last four. Calgary had won two of their last three.
Consider the tables turned.
The two teams enter tonight’s game with the exact opposite circumstances, and considering the Flames went an entire week without a win — you certainly would be justified in feeling uncomfortable about the current state of the team.
That said, try not to let it bear on you too much. The Flames have three or more games in a row four times this season.
Flames Losing Streaks in the 21-22 Season
Three games - November 9th-12th: 4-1 Sharks, 4-2 Canadiens, 2-1 Leafs Four games - December 5th-11th: 3-2 Golden Knights, 5-3 Sharks, 2-1 Hurricanes, 4-2 Bruins Four games - January 4th-13th: 6-2 Panthers, 4-1 Lightning, 6-3 Hurricanes, 4-1 Senators Three games - March 29th-April 2nd: 2-1 Avalanche, 3-2 Kings, 6-4 Blues
Sometimes teams just need to work through their low points — and hope another losing streak doesn’t surface in May.
Today’s 8:30 start between the 40-19-9 Calgary Flames and the well-to-do 38-23-10 LA Kings should be an interesting test for both teams.
Two Kings The Kings have proven this season that they can play tight to the belt and beat even the league’s best teams. Last Thursday the Flames learned that via a 3-2 loss. In fact, both games between these two teams have been 3-2 results. Should they win tonight, they will have pulled to within two points of the Flames — Albeit with Calgary holding three games in hand
The other face of the Kings is one that loses 6-1 to Seattle Kraken or 5-0 to the Sharks. Many of their key contributors are still figuring out the nuances of the league.
No more are the elements in that statement present than that of Sean Durzi. The name may not ring a bell.
He’s a true rookie defenseman in the league. No nine game tryouts. No progressive integration into the lineup. The 6’0… 185lb 23 year old played two COVID shortened seasons in the AHL before seizing top pairing minutes and a high circle trigger position on left side of the Kings’ first powerplay unit.
Watch for Durzi on the right side of the umbrella on this graphic during the Kings powerplay. In terms of the LA’s perspective it would be the left.
Despite only 53 career games played, the offensive defenseman has averaged over 19 minutes a night in his rookie season. Check out his time on ice in the last 12 games.
The point here being that many of the LA Kings core players are learning on the fly. While a tight-to-the-belt one goal game could be on the menu, the game could also get blown open in the second.
Durzi has three goals and 21 assists in 53 games this season.
Update: Jarnkrok is sitting out another game with non-COVID illness.
Practice lines this morning courtesy of Wes Gilbertson. @WesGilbertson
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk Mangiapane-Backlund-Toffoli Dube-Jarnkrok-Coleman Lucic-Carpenter-Lewis
Hanifin-Andersson Stone-Tanev Zadorov-Gudbranson
Markstrom
Speaking of Lineup Changes Center Adam Ruzicka and defenseman Jusso Valimaki were recalled from the Stockton Heat this morning. It looks like they won’t be in the lineup tonight. The Flames no longer have a roster limit and Monahan’s LTIR relief means GM Brad Treliving has more than enough salary cap room to call up players.
Provided versatile forward Calle Jarnkrok is no longer ill, this forward configuration would be a fun one for next game:
Gaudreau-Lindholm-Tkachuk Mangiapane-Ruzicka-Toffoli Dube-Backlund-Coleman Lucic-Carpenter-Jarnkrok That leaves a faceoff option for either side of the ice for the fourth line. Ideal for matchups. If Jarnkrok is still recovering then a few less minutes may help ease him back in.
Per moneypuck.com, the Mangiapane-Ruzicka-Toffoli unit has been deployed in three games. They put up an expected goals of 0.8 per game and expected goals against of 0.5. That kind of skill might be ideal for bringing the 22 year old Adam Ruzicka up to speed.
The 6’4… 220lb Slovak hasn’t seen NHL action since March 12. The young pivot posted a 78% on faceoffs, but was held scoreless in 11:48 of ice time.
Labour Intensive Looking at the differences between the 3-2 win for the Flames vs. the 3-2 loss in the season series between the Kings and Flames, one can’t help but notice the physicality was toned down in the second game. The absence of Dustin Brown, Brendan Lemieux, and the notorious Drew Doughty obviously contribute to that, although the son of Claude Lemieux missed the first game due to suspension.
With those players missing the likes of Olli Maata, Tobias Bjornfoot, Karl Grundstom and Rasmus Kupari take those minutes. The heavy style the Flames have adopted needs to be on display tonight, or a similar result to Thursday’s loss may be on the menu.
Puck drops at 8:37pm MST.
Trevor Neufeld
@Trevor_Neufeld
Statistics courtesy of moneypuck.com naturalstattrick.com and nhl.com.