On Tuesday night the Calgary Flames' 11-game winning streak came to a halt in disappointing fashion as the Flames were shutout but by the Anaheim Ducks.
Tonight the Flames will attempt to get back on track and bring in the new year on a positive note with a win over a divisional opponent in the Kings.
Picking up a needed two points will be easier said than done, though, as the Kings are 23-8-2 since starting the season with three straight losses.
Only the Washington Capitals and Dallas Stars have more wins than the Kings and no team has been better in possession.
The Kings are known for their stingy defense and ability to dominate territorial play so they will certainly be a tough task for a Flames team that was given fits by the Ducks because of their neutral zone defense.
It will be interesting to see how the Flames adapt as their stretch pass first mentality did a lot more harm than good last time out.
LINEUPS Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler Ferland - Bucklund - Colborne Bennett - Granlund - Jones Bouma - Stajan - Bollig
Giordano - Brodie Russell - Hamilton Engelland - Wideman
Ramo
--
Lucic - Kopitar - Toffoli Pearson - Shore - Gaborik Lewis - Andreoff - Brown Mersch - Weal - Nolan
McNabb - Doughty Muzzin - Martinez Forbort - McBain
Quick
NOTES 1) The Kings are as good as anyone in the neutral zone. They don't allow the big play so trying to force the stretch pass isn't going to do the Flames any good. They need to use their mobile defense unit to their advantage, skate the puck when there's an opening, and rely on quick ups and short passes to methodically move the puck up ice. Take what they give you.
2) Tyler Toffoli is red hot of late having scored six goals in his last four games. He possesses a very good shot and an excellent release so it doesn't take much time for him to get a good shot off. That means it's imperative that the Flames a) close on him quickly and b) get in the shooting lane whenever possible.
3) Believe it or not no team averages more shorts on a per game basis than the Los Angeles Kings. The Flames aren't a great defensive team so Karri Ramo will see no shortage of rubber in this game. He'll need to be good.
The game is at 9:00 eastern and can be seen on Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet One, FS-West and NHL-N (US).
Recent posts: On Monahan's full-strength scoring prowess