Saturday night featured a fight, a shorthand goal, overtime, and many of the key ingredients of a a classic Kings-Flames game of yesteryear. Yet, in the end, it was just another in a recent string of far too disappointing losses by LA.
Earlier in the season, escaping a contest with one point was good enough some nights. It no longer is — especially on home ice. Coach Jim Hiller has seen has club amass a 4-6-4 record at Crypto.com Arena thus far. While some regression from a torrid pace in Downtown LA during their 2024-25 season was to be expected, this lack of production has now become worrisome.
Adrian Kempe scored the Kings lone goal of the evening, one that was matched by the Flames with a shorthanded marker. Tied 1-1 after 60 minutes — something that has become far too commonplace over the past few months — it was off to overtime once again.
In the fourth period, Kempe and Anze Kopitar briefly looked to have connected for the game-winning goal, only to have overturned during a video review. Seconds later, an odd-man rush the Flames successfully finished things off. Game over.
Other Notes and Takeaways:
— It was Kempe’s 40th career game-opening goal. That broke a tie with Butch Goring (39) and Ziggy Palffy (39) for sole-possession of the sixth most game-opening goals in franchise history.
— Kempe also tied Kevin Fiala (11) for the team lead in goals.
— Defenseman Drew Doughty skated in his 60th career contest against the Calgary Flames tonight, tops among all skaters in LA franchise history.
— Phil Danault did not play due to illness.
— Sammy Helenius was credited with his fifth NHL fight and first of the season. Ironically, his first-ever NHL scrap also came against Calgary (Nov 2024 vs. Justin Kirkland).
Full game highlights can be viewed here:
Pregame notes and lineups can be found in the article linked below.
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