5 THINGS - FLAMES @ KINGS

NEED-TO-KNOW
GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day Preview
Pre-Game Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
Janko 'feeling confident'
Projected Lineup
FIRESTARTER PODCAST
S02E12: Elias Lindholm
STAT PACK
Head-To-Head Stats
COMING SOON: Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
Standings
Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Matthew Tkachuk (45)
Goals - Elias Lindholm (22)
Kings:
Points - Anze Kopitar (30)
Goals - Kopitar (17)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 21.3% (11th) / PK - 81.1% (13th)
Kings:
PP - 16.8% (24th) / PK - 74.8% (28th)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 50.26% (13th)
High-Danger: 50% (17th)
Kings:
Shot Attempts: 54.03 (4th)
High-Danger: 52.54% (8th)

1. US

Hmmm, how best to describe the Flames right now?
Firing on all cylinder seems apt.
They are coming off two of their most complete and dominating performances of the season, and they are doing it while battling some adversity.
Without reigning Norris Trophy winner and captain Mark Giordano(out with a lower-body injury), they skated to a 6-2 thumping of the Canucks in Vancouver on Saturday night to start this four-game Western swing.
They lost the services of fellow blueliner Travis Hamonic in that game, as he was forced to leave with an injury of his own and is now sidelined, listed as day-to-day.
Moreover, forward Sam Bennett came down with the flu and had to sit out Monday's second stop against the Sharks in San Jose.
No matter, the 'next-man-mentality' was on full display, as the Flames went out and upended the Sharks by the same 6-2 final.
Secondary scoring was on full display, as Milan Lucic, Tobias Riederand Zac Rinaldo staked the visitors out to a 3-0 lead in the first period before Erik Karlsson made it 3-1 after 20 minutes of play.
The Sharks kept coming, Brent Burns narrowing the gap to 3-2 just under five minutes into the second.
But after that, it was all Flames.
Mark Jankowskitallied in the third before Matthew Tkachuk scored of his 'everyone-in-the-hockey-world-talking-about-it' goals.

Mikael Backlund scored a late powerplay marker to round out what was a domianting performance at both ends of the ice for the Flames, with David Rittich making 34 saves in the victory.
"Goals by the depth of your lineup at this time of the year are usually big goals," coach Geoff Wardsaid. "They were big goals for us tonight and they give a real lift to your bench."

>> CLICK HERE FOR QUOTES FROM THE DRESSING ROOM AFTER MORNING SKATE

2. THEM

This has been a tough year for the Kings.
Really tough.
They come into this game sitting last in the Western Conference and second last in the league.
They are 1-8-1 in their last 10 games.
They return to the Staples Center after going 0-4 on their recent road trip, outscored 16-6. They sit with a -46 goal ratio.
In their last outing on Sunday at MSG, they fell 4-1 to the Rangers, with Trevor Moore getting the only goal for them.
"I don't know how (losing) couldn't be wearing on guys," Kings defenceman Drew Doughty said. "I mean, everyone's talking around here, you know, stay positive, keep working, all that kind of stuff. That's what we're trying to do but when you just keep losing it's hard to do it. We're all battling as hard as we can out there, there's no doubt about that. We're just not getting any results and we're not putting 60 minutes together it seems like ever."

3. US VS. THEM

This is the fourth and final meeting between these Pacific Divison Rivals.
The Flames are 1-1-1-0 against the Kings so far.
The King won 4-3 in overtime back on Oct. 8 at the 'Dome, followed by a 4-1 victory on their home ice on Oct. 19.
Calgary won the most recent tilt, prevailing 4-3 on Dec. 7 at the Staples Center.
In that game, Lucic, Rinaldo, Sean Monahan and Dillon Dube scored.

4. THIS, THAT & THE OTHER

THIS:TheFlames continue their terrific road-play and have the best road record in the NHL since Nov. 23 at 12-3-1 in their last 16 away from the Scotiabank Saddledome. Elias Lindholmleads the Flames in road scoring with 12 goals and 25 points in 30 tilts this season. The Flames 16 road wins are the fourth most in the NHL this season. THAT: Jankowski has found his stride as of late. Janko has four points (3G, 1A) in his last five games and has been a +4 over that stretch. The 25-year-old recorded his first multi-point game of the season on Monday in San Jose with a goal and an assist in the game.THE OTHER:Monahan is now tied with Kent Nilsson for the ninth most goals in franchise history at 189. He trails Joe Mullen by just one goal to move into the eight spot.

5. PLAYERS TO WATCH

Flames -LW Milan Lucic
He scored a goal and and an assist in the win over the Canucks to make him the player to watch last game. He came out and scored again and added two helpers vs. the Sharks. So, we think it's a good idea to keep an eye on him again.
Kings -C Anze Koitar
While he was held without a point on their recent road trip, the veteran has been their mist consistent player this season. He tends to have big games against the Flames.