Game 35 Preview: Los Angeles vs Calgary

Los Angeles Kings (17-11-6) vs Calgary Flames (17-15-3)
Monday, December 22, 2014, 7:30 p.m. PT
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Referees: #4 Wes McCauley, #25 Marc Joannette
Linesmen: #86 Brad Lazarowich, #98 John Grandt
KCOP 13, KABC 790 AM

Los Angeles Projected Starting Goaltender – Jonathan Quick
2014-15: 27 GP (27 GS) / 14-8-5 record / 2.29 GAA / .923 Sv% / 3 SHO
Career vs Calgary: 16 (16) / 9-5-2 / 1.60 / .934 / 2
Last Game vs Calgary: 4/9/14 / 65 MP / 15-18 shots / 3-4 SOL
2014-15, Home: 16 (16) / 12-3-1 / 1.71 / .939 / 3

Calgary Projected Starting Goaltender – Jonas Hiller
2014-15: 22 GP (20 GS) / 9-10-2 record / 2.38 GAA / .915 Sv% / 1 SHO
Career vs Los Angeles: 21 (19) / 9-8-3 / 2.30 / .928 / 3
Last Game vs Los Angeles: 1/25/14 / 60 MP / 36-36 shots / 3-0 W
2014-15, Away: 13 (12) / 5-7-1 / 2.49 / .920 / 0

2014-15 Los Angeles Leaders
Total Points: Jeff Carter (10-16=26)
Goals: Tanner Pearson (11-3=14)
Assists: Jeff Carter (10-16=26), Drew Doughty (3-16=19)
Plus/Minus: Tyler Toffoli (+14; 10-14=24)
Penalty Minutes: Matt Greene (38; 2-1=3)
Time On Ice: Drew Doughty (29:05; 3-16=19)
Corsi-For Percentage: Marian Gaborik (58.1%; 10-6=16)

2014-15 Calgary Leaders
Total Points: Mark Giordano (9-23=32)
Goals: Jiri Hudler (13-18=31)
Assists: Mark Giordano (9-23=32)
Plus/Minus: TJ Brodie (+15; 6-17=23)
Penalty Minutes: Brandon Bollig (40; 0-2=2)
Time On Ice: TJ Brodie (24:52; 6-17=23)
Corsi-For Percentage: Jiri Hudler (48.7%; 13-18=31)

Rankings and Statistics
Goals/Game: LAK – t-16 / 2.74; CGY – t-14 / 2.77
Goals Against/Game: LAK – 6 / 2.35; CGY – 17 / 2.69
Power Play: LAK – 15 / 18.3%; CGY – 13 / 19.2%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 16 / 80.3%; CGY – 26 / 77.3%
Shots/Game: LAK – t-5 / 31.6; CGY – 28 / 27.5
Shots Against/Game: LAK – 15 / 29.3; CGY – 9 / 28.2
Faceoffs: LAK – t-12/ 50.6%; CGY – 29 / 46.4%
Save Percentage: LAK – t-5 / .920; CGY – 23 / .905
Corsi-For Percentage: LAK – 3 / 53.3%; CGY – 28 / 44.9%

Los Angeles Projected Lines

Marian Gaborik – Anze Kopitar – Jeff Carter
Dustin Brown – Jarret Stoll – Justin Williams
Tanner Pearson – Trevor Lewis – Tyler Toffoli
Kyle Clifford – Mike Richards – Dwight King

Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Alec Martinez – Matt Greene
Brayden McNabb – Jamie McBain

Jonathan Quick
Martin Jones

Level of confidence in projected lines: A. There were no changes in the line rushes at today’s morning skate. Jonathan Quick was the first goaltender to leave the ice and is expected to start. Andy Andreoff, Jordan Nolan and Jeff Schultz remained on the ice for extra work with Martin Jones and aren’t expected to play tonight.

Notes and milestones: Los Angeles is 88-107-26 all-time against the Calgary/Atlanta organization, a record that includes a home mark of 54-45-10. The Kings, who were 2-2-1 against the Flames last season, are 6-3-1 in the last 10 overall games between the teams. … Los Angeles is 11-5-3 against the Western Conference and 5-1-2 against the Pacific Division. … The Kings have averaged 3.1 goals per game over their last 20 games (62 G / 20 GP). They have allowed 2.71 goals per game over their last 14 games (38 GA / 14 GP). … Los Angeles has a 56.7% Corsi-for rating in five-on-five play over the last 14 games (734 CF / 561 CA). The Kings haven’t been outshot over the last 10 games (5-4-1) and have averaged 36.3 shots per game over that span (363 shots / 10 GP). Opposing goalies have posted a .925 save percentage over that span (334 saves / 361 shots). … Los Angeles has power play goals in three straight games, going 6-for-17 over that span. … The Kings are tied for the most points (27) and wins (13) at home through 18 games in franchise history. This is the eighth time in franchise history the Kings have had 27 points (also 2012-13, 2010-11, 1992-93, 1988-89, 1979-80, 1974-75, 1972-73) through 18 games and the fifth time in club history Los Angeles has had 13 home wins (also 2012-13, 2010-11, 1992-93, 1988-89) through 18 games. … The Kings are 12-2-3 when allowing zero power play goals, 15-3-1 when allowing two goals or less and 13-1-3 when scoring the game’s first goal. … Darryl Sutter (115-68-30) is tied with Tom Webster (11-5-94-31) for fifth place on the all-time wins list amongst Kings coaches. Dean Lombardi and Dave Taylor are tied for the second most games served as Los Angeles’ general manager. … Marian Gaborik has goals in four straight games (6-2=8), the longest streak by a King this season. This is Gaborik’s longest streak since he had a five-game streak, Dec. 17-26, 2011 (7-0=7; w/ New York Rangers). … Anze Kopitar has nine points (1-8=9) total over his three-game assist streak. He has posted 3-or-more assists in consecutive games for the first time in his career. … Jeff Carter has recorded seven points (3-4=7) over his three-game point streak.

Calgary Projected Lines

Curtis Glencross – Sean Monahan – David Jones
Johnny Gaudreau – Markus Granlund – Jiri Hudler
Mason Raymond – Joe Colborne – Paul Byron
Brandon Bollig – Matt Stajan – Lance Bouma

TJ Brodie – Mark Giordano
Kris Russell – Dennis Wideman
Raphael Diaz – Deryk Engelland

Jonas Hiller
Karri Ramo

Notes and milestones: Lines via Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 … Calgary will be without F Mikael Backlund (abdominal surgery / IR), D Ladislav Smid (upper-body / IR) and Josh Jooris (upper-body). … The Flames have won two consecutive games at Staples Center. … With 199 career assists, Jiri Hudler is one assist shy of 200 in his career. … Forward Brian McGrattan was selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft but never played for the Kings. … Calgary leads the NHL with 641 blocked shots. … The Flames are 11-7-1 against the Western Conference and 6-3-1 against the Pacific Division. … Calgary is 3-1 in shootouts this season. Jonas Hiller is 1-1, having allowed one goal on seven shots. Joe Colborne (1/1), Sean Monahan (2/3), Johnny Gaudreau (1/3) and Jiri Hudler (1/4) have attempted shots in the shootout. … The Flames have been outscored 69-51 in first and second periods but have outscored their opponents 46-25 in third periods and overtime. … Calgary leads the NHL with seven goals during four-on-four play.