The view from Calgary

CANADIAN PRESS

Kopitar’s two points lead Kings past Flames for eighth straight win

The Kings scored on their first shot on goal at 4:05 of the first when Williams redirected a pass from Anze Kopitar past Ortio. Williams drove hard to the net and attempted to get his stick on the pass from Kopitar, but the puck instead bounced off his shin and into the net behind Ortio.

“They’re a bigger, more physical team than us and I thought they imposed their rhythm right from the start,” said Calgary coach Bob Hartley. “They got that early goal and that kind of put us on our heels.”

CALGARY HERALD

George Johnson: Martin Jones wins at Saddledome for first time since 2010 WHL title with Hitmen

In the third, he was busier. Much busier. His old Hitmen teammate T.J. Galiardi pounded a shot wide from an encouraging spot, only to have Voynov swoop in and carry the leftovers to safety. Jones did produce a big, challenge stop on Mikael Backlund short-handed, standing all of his 6-foot-3-inches tall as the Swedish centre cut to the cage, then smothered a dangerous try from Cammalleri, stationed at the lip of the crease.

“He’s been incredible,” raved centre Tyler Toffoli. “He came in and won eight in a row and really helped us when Quickie was out. Now Quickie’s obviously back so he’s not getting as much time in net, but when he is getting the chance, he’s doing well.”

Scott Cruickshank: Former junior roommate proud of Monahan’s play during rookie season with Flames

Los Angeles centre Tyler Toffoli gets a kick out of @boringmonahan, the Twitter account that pokes fun of Calgary Flames rookie Sean Monahan’s sometimes bland public persona.

“Whoever’s doing that, it makes sense,” chuckled Toffoli, Monahan’s road roommate during their days together with the OHL Ottawa 67’s. “When you get to know him, you realize the type of guy he is. He’s really funny.”

CALGARY SUN

Wes Gilbertson: Calgary Flames lose 3-2 to L.A. Kings

The Los Angeles Kings haven’t suffered a loss since Feb. 3.

Back then, a half-dozen members of the Calgary Flames’ current roster were suiting up for the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat and their sudden starting netminder, Joni Ortio, hadn’t even stepped on the ice in an NHL game.

The Flames don’t want to use their youth and inexperience as an excuse but, when you consider those facts, Monday’s result — a 3-2 loss to the Kings at the Saddledome — shouldn’t be a surprise.

FLAMESNATION.CA

BOOKOFLOOB: Post Game: So It Goes

The march towards slow, grim death steadies on with a consistent cadence, and on this night, the Los Angeles Kings rolled into town to aid in this ominous reality for your Calgary Flames.

To call this game a pretty one would be to call the works of Thomas Pynchon a study in eternal whimsy. Choppy play. Sustained action lasting sometimes almost as long as 8 seconds. A Ben Stein pace. That’s what this game between storied Pacific Division rivals amounted to in this one, and if you missed it, life is good.

SB NATION – MATCHSTICKS AND GASOLINE

ArikJames: Kings at Flames Recap: It Was a Barely a Game

For about five minutes in the first, Calgary looked like it might actually make the match against Los Angeles interesting. The next fifteen minutes featured the Flames trying their best to dispel that illusion.

Calgary did eventually score, with Cammalleri and McGrattan getting some late-Iginla era garbage time goals, but it’d be tough to see this as anything but an absolute train wreck of a game.

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