Los Angeles (32-36-6) at Calgary (27-36-4)
Currently: - Game info: 9:00 pm EST Fri Apr 4, 2003
- TV: FSW, SN
It won’t amount to much in the long run, but the Los Angeles Kings will try to match a season-best three-game win streak when they visit the Calgary Flames.
After ending a four-game losing streak with a 5-4 overtime win over Phoenix on Monday, the Kings scored three unanswered goals in the third period in a 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
“We really had nothing to save it for,” defenseman Aaron Miller said. “They’re looking toward the playoffs, so we wanted to maybe stop them from getting a spot higher in the standings—or do something negative, because they ended our season two years in a row.”
Eric Belanger had two goals and an assist and Ziggy Palffy added a goal and two assists for Los Angeles, out of the playoffs for the first time since 1998-99.
The Kings, who close the regular season Sunday at Vancouver, haven’t won three straight since Jan. 30-Feb. 7.
With Los Angeles out of playoffs, rookie goalie Cristobal Huet has seen extra playing time of late. The 27-year-old has won his last two starts while allowing seven goals.
The Flames will be home watching the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season—the longest current streak in the league.
Chris Drury scored the tying goal at 14:39 of the third period Thursday as Calgary skated to a 2-2 tie against the San Jose Sharks.
“Once again, we weren’t prepared in the first and I don’t know why, but over the final couple periods we outplayed them by a wide margin,” Drury said. “We’re going to take the positives where we can get them and that is that we responded well.”
Martin Gelinas also scored for Calgary, winless in its last three (0-2-1).
The Flames went 0-for-8 on the power play, and have failed to score with the man advantage on their last 36 chances.
Defenseman Bob Boughner is likely done for the season after he was taken to a hospital Thursday with a lacerated tendon in his right forearm, an injury accidentally caused by Teemu Selanne’s skate.
STANDINGS: Kings - 75 points, 3rd place (tied), 34 PB, Pacific Division. Flames - 71 points, 5th place, 33 PB, Northwest Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Kings - Palffy, 36 goals, 48 assists and 84 points; Sean Avery, 151 PIM. Flames - Jarome Iginla, 35 goals and 66 points; Craig Conroy, 37 assists; Scott Nichol, 132 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through April 2): Kings - Power play: 14.9 percent (52 for 328), 17th in NHL. Penalty killing: 83.0 percent (302 for 364), 18th. Flames - Power play: 11.9 percent (45 for 377), 30th. Penalty killing: 83.2 percent (317 for 381), 15th.
GOALTENDERS: Kings - Jamie Storr (11-19-2, 2 SO, 2.62 GAA); Huet (4-3-1, 1, 2.38). Flames - Roman Turek (25-29-9, 4, 2.63); Jamie McLennan (2-11-4, 2.99).
SEASON SERIES: Flames, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: March 18; Flames, 4-1. At Los Angeles, Conroy set up three scores and Iginla had a goal and an assist for Calgary.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Kings - 13-18-4-4 on the road; Flames - 13-16-10-1 at home.
Team Comparison
| Team | G | W | L | OTL | Pts | Standings | GF | GA | Road/Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 82 | 33 | 37 | 6 | 78 | 3rd, Pacific | 203 | 221 | 14-18-4-5 Road |
| Calgary | 82 | 29 | 36 | 4 | 75 | 5th, Northwest | 186 | 228 | 14-16-10-1 Home |
Jewels From The Crown
Matchsticks and Gasoline
