The Los Angeles Kings (48-24-9) will host the Calgary Flames (40-27-14) at Crypto.com Arena to close out the regular season for both teams. The Pacific Division rivals find themselves going in direct directions: Los Angeles is set to host Edmonton in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 21st, while Calgary failed to make the playoff cut.
Last Ten
Los Angeles 8-2-0
Calgary 6-1-3
Top Scorers
LA- Adrian Kempe 35 G 38 A 73 PTS
CAL-Nazeem Kadri 35 G 32 A 65 PTS
Notable
Forward Taylor Ward will make his NHL debut for the Kings tonight.
With at least one point tonight, LA would set the franchise record for most points in a season.
1st Period
We are underway at Crypto!
Byfield and Fiala go in a 2-on-1 but can't convert.
Calgary gets some o-zone time and Kadri gets off a wrister that is eaten up by Rittich.
Taylor Ward can't handle the pass on what could have been a Grade-A scoring chance.
Mikey Andersson enters the zone with speed and finds Trevor Moore in deep but Vladar makes the save.
BIG SAVE from Vladar on a walk-in by Taylor Ward who was looking for his first NHL goal.
PENALTY Samuel Helenius goes off two minutes for hooking.
Coleman gets offs a hard wrist shot but Big Save Dave makes the pad save.
LA is back to even-strength.
Calgary outshooting LA 9-4 with about 7 minutes left in the 1st.
Gavrikov turns the puck over and Rittich bails him out with a nice save. Rittich looks dialed in tonight.
Akil Thomas bid is denied by Vladar.
So far, LA looks like a team that is thinking about the playoffs. Not a lot of engagement.
Excellent save from Rittich on a hard one-timer from Hunt.
First shift from LA where they have had some sustained zone time. Hard shot from the point by Doughty.
LA waking up a little before the final horn on the 1st. Hard shot from Gavrikov gets through to Vladar.
END OF ONE
Shots on goal
CAL 12
LA 10
A very lethargic start from the Kings tonight. Could easily be down a few goals in this one but Rittich has come through with some big saves. LA will need to be much better in the second period.
2nd Period
The puck is down in the second frame in LA.
GOAL Kadri walks out from behind the goal line and roofs one over Rittich's pads. 1-0 CAL. Kadri sets a career season high with this 34th goal of the year.
Good shift from the Kings, generating a few shots and some traffic in front of Vladar.
Byfield makes a nice move and then fires off a missile that draws iron. Fiala recovers the puck and is tripped up. LA to the power play.
Good pressure and puck movement from the Kings but Vladar keeps them off the board.
Bahl wraps up Akil Thomas after the whistle and Helenius comes in to stick up for Akil.
Parekh trips Mikey Andersson and the Kings are back on the power play. Fiala fires a rocket over the net.
Good pressure from LA, feels like they are close to converting.
Backhand chance from Lewis but Vladar gloves it down.
END OF TWO
Shot on goal
CAL 12 6
LA 10 5
LA looked much in the second period and had more sustained o-zone time. LA had some good looks on the power play but couldn't find the back of the net. A lot of work to do in the 3rd if they want to win for the 32nd time at home this year.
3rd Period
Taylor Ward wide open in front of Vladar but can't beat the Calgary netminder over the glove.
Laferriere walks in but can't beat Vladar.
Turcotte hits the post. Good jump from the Kings at the start of this period.
Byfield to the penalty box for a high-stick on Parekh.
Byfield and Fiala on a 2-on-1 but Vladar robs Fiala.
GOAL Counter by Calgary and Morton drives to the net and flips the puck past Rittich. 2-0 CAL. This is Sam Morton's first NHL goal.
GOAL Kadri connects for his 35th of year and the Flames are starting to blow this one open.
GOAL Zane Parekh joins in on the fun and scores his 1st NHL goal. You can put this one in the fridge. The jello is jigglin' and the butter is getting hard.
GOAL Mikael Backland top shelf wrister from the left circle. His 15th of the year. This Calgary team doesn't look like a non-playoff team tonight. As the for the Kings, head coach Jim Hiller cannot be happy about this effort from his team tonight.
LA to the power play.
GOAL Taylor Ward knocks in a rebound from in front to score his 1st NHL goal, breaking up Vladar's shutout.
FINAL: CAL 5, LA 1
Shot on goal
CAL 12 6 11 29
LA 10 5 16 31
The Kings never looked ready to play in this one. If they come out like this against Edmonton on Monday, they should probably expect a similar result. In a certain sense, however, this was the Kings' B Squad, in that Kempe, Trevor Moore, and Phil Danault were all scratched.
Sam Morton (CAL), Zayne Parekh (CAL), and Taylor Ward (LA) all scored their 1st NHL goal.
NEXT UP: Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles, Round 1, Game 1, April 21st, 7:00 Pacific, Crypto.com Arena.
