Calgary vs. Los Angeles

Flames -165 vs. Kings

The Calgary Flames could not keep the momentum of their home-and-home sweep of their divisional rival Colorado Avalanche long enough to face the Detroit Red Wings. The defending cup champions throttled the Flames at the Joe Louis Arena this past Saturday night.

It has been a tough few weeks for the Flames (11-9-1). If you do not count they sweep of the hapless Avalanche, the Flames have lost six out of their last eight. Part of the problem for Calgary has been goalie Miikka Kiprusoff’s inconsistent play. Kiprusoff had missed a few games earlier this month and is 11-8-1 this season with a bloated 3.21 goals against average.

The Flames had had recent success against Colorado and were able to beat the Avalanche in the two games last week. They will hope this trend continues with another team whose number they own: the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings will make the trip to the Canadian Rockies and face off against the Flames Tuesday night. Calgary has beaten Los Angeles in seven of the last 10 contests.

Los Angeles (8-8-3) comes in losers of three of their last four games. Saturday night, the Kings were the victims of a frustrated Colorado bunch who has been preyed on by the Flames earlier in the week. Los Angeles lost 4-3 in a shootout at home.

Erik Ersberg and Jason LaBarbera have split time in goal for the Kings this season although Ersberg has a better record and goals against average. Ersberg was in goal for the shootout loss to Colorado.

The Kings are continuing to sink in the standings while the NHL points leaders, the San Jose Sharks continue to win. Los Angeles is in third place in the Pacific Division, but actually closer to last than first. The Kings are 16 points behind the Sharks and only three points out of last place. They are six points behind second-place Anaheim.

Calgary, meanwhile, is tied with Minnesota for second place in the Northwest Division, five points behind first-place Vancouver.

InSpin.com