CALGARY FLAMES NOTES:
FLAMES LAST GAME RECAP
DECEMBER 20, 2022 – CALGARY FLAMES [7] vs. SAN JOSE SHARKS [3]
The Calgary Flames continued a four-game California road trip with their second-straight stop in San Jose to take on the Sharks. The Flames started the game on fire with Tyler Toffoli scoring just 15 seconds into the contest to give the Flames an early lead. 15 seconds later, Dillon Dube added to the Flames advantage, making it 2-0 Calgary just 30 seconds into the tilt, a franchise record for the two fastest goals to start a game. Nico Sturm would get one back for the Sharks in the ladder stages of the first and the Flames skated into the intermission up 2-1. Trevor Lewis would record his 200th NHL point midway through the second with a goal to put the Flames up by two. The Sharks would cut the deficit to one with Barabanov beating Markstrom with under a minute left in the second. Timo Meier would tie the game for San Jose under four minutes into the third, but after that the Flames offence would explode to the tune of four unanswered goals with Kadri tallying twice, along with Lucic and Toffoli to secure a 7-3 win for the Flames.
CGY GOAL SCORERS: Toffoli (12, 13), Dube (7), Lewis (7), Kadri (12, 13), Lucic (2)
GOALIE: Markstrom (24/27, .889 Sv%)
PP: 0/2 (0%)
PK: 3/3 (100%)
FLAMES LAST FIVE RESULTS, RECORD: 2-1-2
DATE RESULT GWG CGY GOALIE OPP. GOALIE
December 20, 2022 CGY [7] at SJS [3] Kadri Markstrom Reimer
December 18, 2022 CGY [5] at SJS [2] Lindholm Markstrom Kahkonen
December 16, 2022 STL [5] vs. CGY [2] Buchnevich Markstrom Greiss
December 14, 2022 VAN [4] vs. CGY 3 Kuzmenko* Markstrom Martin
December 12, 2022 CGY [1] at MTL 2 Dach* Markstrom Allen
*shootout winning goal
FLAMES UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
DATE TIME (MST) OPPONENT VENUE
December 22, 2022 8:30pm at Los Angeles Kings Cryto.com Arena
December 23, 2022 8:30pm at Anaheim Ducks Honda Center
December 27, 2022 7:00pm vs. Edmonton Oilers Scotiabank Saddledome
December 28, 2022 8:00pm at Seattle Kraken Climate Pledge Arena
December 31, 2022 8:00pm vs. Vancouver Canucks Scotiabank Saddledome
TONIGHTS STORYLINES & STATS
This is the second of four matchups this season between the Flames and Kings. The Flames won their opening game against the Kings 6-5 back on November 14. This is a Pacific Division Matchup; The Flames have an overall record of 5-2-1 against Pacific Division opponents this season and a record of 9-4-1 against Western Conference opponents.
FIRST MEETING:
The Calgary Flames welcomed the Los Angeles Kings for the first of two meetings at the Scotiabank Saddledome this season back on November 14th
. Jonathan Huberdeau opened the scoring 3:49 into the game with his 200th NHL goal and the two clubs traded blows after that, combining for a six-goal first period with the Flames leading 4-2 after a busy opening 20. In the second, Adam Ruzicka and Elias Lindholm would both score for the second straight game along with the Kings’ Kevin Fiala for another high scoring period. The Flames would surrender a pair of goals in the third but lock things down and come away with a 6-5 victory over LA.
HUBERDEAU’S HELPERS:
Jonathan Huberdeau recorded three assists on Tuesday night in San Jose for the first time in a Flames sweater. All three of Huberdeau’s helpers came in the third period and he was just one away from the Flames franchise record for most assists in a period which was set back in 1986 by Gary Suter. Huberdeau’s three-point night was his ninth outing with at least three assists dating back to last season, tied with Nikita Kucherov and Roman Josi for the most among all players through that span. The Saint-Jerome, QC native also moved to fifth in games with three or more assists by a primary left winger in NHL history with 24, passing Luc Robitaille.
LETHAL ELIAS:
Elias Lindholm recorded his second three-assist game of the campaign on Tuesday night in San Jose. Over his last three games, Lindholm has two goals and six assists for eight points which leads the NHL since Dec. 16. Lindholm now has 31 points (11G, 20A) in 32 games played this season which tops all Flames skaters, and he currently leads all skaters from the 2013 draft class since the start of December with his 15 points in 10 games through the month thus far. His 15 December points are also the most among all Swedish-born skaters in the NHL.
HOT START:
Tyler Toffoli and Dillon Dube both scored in the first 30 seconds of the game on Tuesday night in San Jose, which set a franchise record for the fastest two goals to start a game in Flames history, beating Doug Risebrough and Colin Patterson’s two tallies in 32 seconds during a 6-1 win over the Hartford Whalers on March 11th, 1987. Calgary is now just the seventh team in NHL history to score two goals in the opening 30 seconds of a game and just the fourth team to do it on the road. The others are Edmonton, Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Carolina, and San Jose with Calgary becoming the first team to score twice in the first 30 seconds since Carolina did it in 2018. The Flames became the third team to score in the first 25 seconds of a game on Tuesday night along with the Rangers and Hurricanes marking just the second day in NHL history three teams have scored in the first 25 seconds, with the other occurrence coming on November 7th, 2019 (WSH, NYI and CBJ).
NAZEM NETS A PAIR:
Nazem Kadri recorded his second two-goal game of the season including the game-winning goal on Tuesday night in San Jose. Kadri ranks fifth in goals by a centre in their first 33 career games with Calgary with 13, tied with Robert Reichel and trailing teammate Elias Lindholm who recorded 16 in his first 33 games with the Flames back in 2018-19. Third on the list is Mel Bridgman, Kent Nilsson ranks second, and Joe Nieuwendyk tops the list when he had 30 points in his first 33 games as a Flame.
OFFENSE ALL AROUND:
Over their two-game set with San Jose, the Flames got offence from up and down the lineup. Elias Lindholm leads the group with six points in the two games at SAP Center, while Toffoli had five points, followed by Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau who each recorded four points, Lucic and Dube both had three, while Lewis, Andersson, Ruzicka and Hanifin all picked up at least a point.
DID YOU KNOW?
Trevor Lewis recorded his 200th NHL point on Tuesday night in San Jose with his second period goal. Flames forward Andrew Mangiapane and defenseman Rasmus Andersson were teammates with Brendan Lemieux on the Barrie Colts from 2014 to 2016. Elias Lindholm and Viktor Arvidsson were teammates on Sweden at the 2013 World Junior Championships.
CALGARY FLAMES vs. LOS ANGELES KINGS
ALL-TIME HOME AWAY L10 STRK
CGY vs. LAK 128-94-21-8 74-36-12-5 54-58-9-3 5-3-2 W2
GAME INFO:
Calgary Flames vs. Los Angeles Kings
7:30pm PT
Crypto.com Arena
TV: Sportsnet West
Radio: Sportsnet Fan 960
2022-23 Season Series: 1-0-0 (Home: 1-0-0, Road 0-0-0)
Nov. 14, 2022 – LAK [5] at CGY [6]
Dec. 22, 2022 – CGY at LAK
Mar. 20, 2023 – CGY at. LAK
Mar. 28, 2023 – LAK at CGY
2021-22 Season Record vs. LAK: 1-2-0 (Home: 1-1-0, Road: 0-1-0)
Last Home Win vs. LAK: November 14, 2022 – Los Angeles [5] vs. Calgary [6]
Last Road Win @ LAK: April 4, 2022 – Calgary [3] at Los Angeles [2]
Last Home Loss vs. LAK: March 20, 2022 – Los Angeles [3] vs. Calgary 2
Last Road Loss @ LAK: February 12, 2020 – Calgary [3] at Los Angeles [5]
2022-23 CALGARY FLAMES
FLAMES RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
Dec. 8 – placed Kevin Rooney (F) on waivers; cleared waivers
Dec. 8 – recalled Matthew Phillips (F) from Calgary (AHL)
Dec. 9 – recalled Radim Zohorna (F) from Calgary (AHL)
Dec. 18 – recalled Dennis Gilbert (D) from Calgary (AHL); placed Chris Tanev (D) on IR (retroactive)
Dec. 20 – recalled Nick DeSimone (D) from Calgary (AHL); placed Dennis Gilbert (D) on IR
FLAMES RECENT INJURIES (Total man games lost – 27)
Noah Hanifin – illness (1 game: Oct. 21)
Chris Tanev – upper-body (5 games: Nov. 3 – Nov. 10)
Jonathan Huberdeau – upper-body (3 games: Nov. 8 – Nov. 12)
Michael Stone – lower-body (11 games: Nov. 7 – Nov. 25)
MacKenzie Weegar – non-COVID illness (1 game: Dec. 12)
Elias Lindholm – upper-body injury (1 game: Dec. 12)
Chris Tanev – upper-body injury (3 games: Dec. 14 – Dec. 18)
Radim Zohorna – non-COVID illness (1 game: Dec. 18)
Dennis Gilbert – lower-body injury (1 game: Dec. 20)
LOS ANGELES KINGS NOTES:
DEC. 22 vs. CALGARY FLAMES – 7:30 PM PT // Venue: Crypto.com Arena // TV: Bally Sports West // Radio: iHeartRadio
-The LA Kings host the Calgary Flames for the second of four meetings between the clubs this season (6-5 L on Nov. 14; March 20; March 28).
-The Kings aim to even the season series against the Flames (6-5 L, Nov. 14).
-Tonight’s game marks the final game of the Kings’ three-game homestand (3-2 SOW on Dec. 17 vs. SJS; 4-1 W on Dec. 20 vs. ANA).
WARM-UPS
1) Anze Kopitar sits four points shy of 1,100 in his career. Only two LA Kings skaters have eclipsed 1,100 points in their career with the kings: Marcel Dionne (1,307) and Luc Robitaille (1,154).
2) Pheonix Copley’s first career NHL win came against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 27, 2018. Copley stopped 27-of-30 shots, and three of four shootout attempts, to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 SO victory over the Flames in Calgary.
3) Alex Iafallo registered his third goal of the season Tuesday night against Anaheim. His second period goal stood as the game-winning goal, the 11th of his career.
4) Viktor Arvidsson (121) has the fifth-most even-strength goals among 2014 NHL Draftees, sitting behind David Pastrnak (168), Leon Draisaitl (161), Nikolaj Ehlers (132) and Brayden Point (122).
5) Six of Sean Durzi’s seven goals have come at Crypto.com Arena.
vs. CALGARY ALL-TIME:
All-Time Record: 102-119-21-9
Home: 61-50-9-4
Away: 41-69-12-5
OT: 13-11 (12 ties)
Shootout: 4-2
2021-22: 1-2-0
2022-23: 0-1-0
FRANCHISE LEADERS vs. CALGARY:
Luc Robitaille – 84 GP, 108 PTS (53-55=108)
Marcel Dionne – 67 GP, 85 PTS (49-36=85)
Dave Taylor – 95 GP, 85 PTS (30-55=85)
Wayne Gretzky – 47 GP, 82 PTS (21-61=82)
Bernie Nicholls – 61 GP, 63 PTS (20-43=63)
Anze Koptiar* – 62 GP, 52 PTS (20-32=52)
*-denotes active roster player
LAST MEETING vs. CALGARY: November 14, 2022 – LAK 5 vs. CGY 6
Venue: Scotiabank Saddledome
LAK Goals: Kaliyev (5, 6), Fiala (6), Kopitar (3), Kempe (7)
CGY Goals: Huberdeau (2), Mangiapane (3), Ritchie (3), Toffoli (6), Lindholm (6), Ruzicka (2)
Goalies: LAK: Quick (L, 24 saves, 30 shots) CGY: Markstrom (W, 24 saves, 29 shots)
LAK PP: 1-for-2
LAK PK: 1-for-2
THE NEXT THREE:
Fri., Dec. 23 | at Arizona Coyotes | 7:30 p.m. MT (6:30 p.m. PT) | Bally Sports West | LA Kings iHeart Radio Audio Network
o The LA Kings have won their last three consecutive games against Arizona and five of their last six (5-0-1).
Tues., Dec. 27 | vs. Vegas Golden Knights | 7:30 p.m. PT | Bally Sports West | LA Kings iHeart Radio Audio Network
o No skater has more points against the Golden Knights in league history than Anze Kopitar (11-19=30).
Thur., Dec. 29 | at Colorado Avalanche | 7:00 p.m. MT (6:00 p.m. PT) | Bally Sports West | LA Kings iHeart Radio Audio Network
o The LA Kings play Colorado for the first of three meetings between the clubs this season (March 9; April 8).
INJURY & MGL REPORT
Player, Games Missed, Date(s), Status
F Alex Iafallo, 23 games, Oct. 18 – Dec. 3 (lower-body)
F Brendan Lemieux, 18 games, Nov. 14 – Pres. (lower-body)
F Quinton Byfield, 6 games, Oct. 27 – Nov. 5 (illness)
F Viktor Arvidsson, 2 games, Oct. 13 (illness); Oct. 25 (illness)
D Sean Durzi, 2 games, Nov. 19 – Nov. 22. (lower-body)
D Drew Doughty, 1 game, Dec. 11 (lower-body)
F Gabriel Vilardi, 1 game, Nov. 27 (lower-body)
2022-23 Total Regular-Season Man-Games List: 53
RECENT TRANSACTIONS (as of 12/22/22)
Dec. 4 – Aidan Dudas (F) loaned to Ontario (AHL).
Dec. 7 – Brandt Clarke (D) loaned to Team Canada (IIHF).
Dec. 12 – Rasmus Kupari (F) and Jordan Spence (D) recalled from Ontario (AHL). Viktor Arvidsson (F) granted non-roster status.
Dec. 16 – Samuel Fagemo (F), Rasmus Kupari (F) and Tobias Bjornfot (D) loaned to Ontario (AHL).
Dec. 18 – Rasmus Kupari (F) and Jordan Spence (D) loaned to Ontario (AHL).
Dec. 19 – Rasmus Kupari (F) and Jordan Spence (D) recalled from Ontario (AHL).
LA KINGS TEAM NOTES:
HOME SWEET HOME
With Drew Doughty’s power-play goal Tuesday night against the Ducks, the LA Kings extended their home power-play goal streak to
eight games (12 PPGs); a feat last accomplished by the club from Feb. 17, 2007 to March 17, 2007 (11 PPGs). During their current
streak, dating back to Nov. 12, the Kings have built a successful power play percentage of 44.4% (12-for-27), which ranks first in the
league.
Best home PP% since Nov. 12, 2022
Team GP PP%
LA Kings 8 44.4% (12-for-27)
Edmonton Oilers 9 38.2% (13-for-34)
Boston Bruins 11 36.4% (16-for-44)
Toronto Maple Leafs 9 34.5% (10-for-29)
Buffalo Sabres 9 31.3% (10-for-32)
With a power play goal tonight, the Kings can extend their home power play goal streak to nine games. The last time the Kings
extended such streak to nine games was from Oct. 4, 1990 to Nov. 8, 1990 (18 PPGs).
In the past month, since Nov. 20, the Kings have scored 10 power play goals in their last 24 man-advantage opportunities (41.7%) at
Crypto.com Arena. Overall, LA’s power-play at home sits sixth in the league:
PHEONIX RISING
Kings goaltender Pheonix Copley stopped 25 of 26 shots Tuesday night to improve to 5-1 on the season. In his six games with the
Kings this season, Copley has established a 2.43 goals-against average and .912 save percentage to go along with his 5-1-0 record.
Since his season debut with the Kings on Dec. 6, only Washington’s Charlie Lindgren (6) has more wins than Copley’s five. With his
secondary assist on Phillip Danault’s first period goal last Saturday night versus San Jose, Copley became the 13th different
goaltender to record a point this season.
A native of North Pole, AK, Copley is one of three Alaska-born goaltenders to play in the NHL, joining Jeremy Swayman (BOS) and Ty
Conklin.
THE CAPTAIN’S HOUSE
Anze Kopitar sits at 597 (198-399=597) career home points, trailing only Marcel Dionne (288-412=700) and Luc Robitaille (322-
347=669) in club history. With three more points, Kopitar can become the fifth active player to eclipse 600 career home points:
Most home points among active skaters
Player GP Points
Sidney Crosby 567 804 (291-513=804)
Alex Ovechkin 650 746 (391-355=746)
Evgeni Malkin 509 658 (250-408=658)
Patrick Kane 572 633 (223-410=633)
Anze Kopitar 622 597 (198-399=597)
With one more home assist, Kopitar can become one of two players in franchise history to have 400+ assists at home (Dionne – 412)
and one of four active skaters to accomplish such feat (Sidney Crosby – 513; Patrick Kane – 410; Evgeni Malkin – 408).
HISTORY FOR #8
Drew Doughty scored his second goal of the season Tuesday night versus Anaheim for his 20th point on the year. Per NHL PR,
Doughty is the fourth player, and first defenseman, in Kings history to record 15 consecutive campaigns of at least 20 points, joining
Anze Kopitar (17), Dustin Brown (17) and Dave Taylor (15). Doughty has now recorded 39 points (8-31=39) in 68 career games
against Anaheim. The only team he has more points against is the Arizona Coyotes (67 GP, 14-32=46).
Doughty’s goal marked his 260th career power-play point. Only Brent Burns (287) has more power-play points among active
defensemen in the league.
SHOOTOUT GURU
Forward Trevor Moore scored the game-deciding shootout goal for the LA Kings for the second consecutive game last Saturday,
guiding the team to a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Moore’s shootout goal marked the third of his career in his fourth-ever attempt
(75%). All three of his shootout goals have been game-deciding tallies. Moore is one of four players this season with multiple gamedeciding shootout goals, joining Montreal’s Kirby Dach (2) and Nick Suzuki (2) and Colorado’s Evan Rodrigues (2).
ROYAL LEADER
Forward Kevin Fiala scored his 10th goal of the season Tuesday night to eclipse the 10-goal plateau for the seventh consecutive
season and extend his team leading point total to 35 (10-25=35). He also boosted his regular-season totals in the 2022 calendar year to
100 points (37-63=100), becoming the 14th player in 2022 to reach the century mark. Per NHL PR, only three other calendar years in
league history had as many: 1992 (20), 1983 (15) and 1993 (14).
Fiala also leads the team in multi-point games this season with 10. (6 GP with 2 PTS; 3 GP with 3 PTS; 1 GP with 4 PTS). With one
more three-plus point game, Fiala can become the first Kings skater since the 2017-18 season, and second in the last 15 years, to have
at least five three-plus point games in a season (Anze Kopitar, 7 GP in 2017-18; 5 GP in 2014-15; 7 GP, 2009-10; 6 GP, 2008-09).
YOUNG GUN
With one more point, Durzi can hit the 20-point mark for his second straight season from the start of his career. Last year, Durzi
recorded his 20th point in his 48th game on March 24, 2022 against Chicago with his second career three-point game (0-3=3).
Only three Kings defensemen in the past 25 years have recorded 20-plus points in each of their first two or more consecutive seasons
in the NHL: Drew Doughty (14 seasons: 2008-09 to 2021-22 – can extend this season) L’ubomir Visnovsky (7 seasons: 2000-01 to
2007-08) and Slava Voynov (3 seasons: 2011-12 to 2013-14).
Durzi sits at 96 career NHL games played entering tonight. With four more games played, Durzi can become the 11th defenseman from
his draft class to appear in 100 career NHL games.
