Leading the NHL with six short-handed goals is a notable achievement for the Los Angeles Kings, but they’re intent on not relying on them as they prepare to host the Calgary Flames on Saturday.
The Kings have scored a half-dozen times while down a skater or two, but their 3-2 overtime road loss to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday put front and center the need to stop reaching the penalty box.
The Kraken scored all three goals while on the power play, including one in the final minute of regulation and another 81 seconds into extra time, leaving the Kings lamenting a lost point in the standings.
“We cleaned that up and then that’s crept back in,” coach Jim Hiller said. “You just obviously can’t do it. You can argue with some of the calls but the calls are made. That’s what I say, when you get those types of penalties, they’re 50/50 calls a lot of times, they can go either way, but if you put yourself in that position, then you’ve got to live with the results.”
Los Angeles had its two-game winning streak snapped, but has posted a 4-2-4 mark in its last 10 outings.
As the Kings return home for one game in the middle of five road clashes, the focus will be on cleaning up their discipline, which will make closing out a one-goal game that much easier.
“I feel like every game kind of comes down with this situation and we’re very comfortable in that situation,” defenseman Joel Edmundson said. “At the end of the day, when you take seven minors, it’s tough to win a hockey game.”
The Flames are on a quest to return to the win column after a 4-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday to close out a strong homestand in which they opened with a trio of victories.
Calgary may sit second from the bottom in the league standings, but it has compiled a 7-4-1 record in the past dozen outings, and nearly completed a wild comeback against Detroit.
After staking the Red Wings a four-goal lead, the Flames scored three times in the final 12 minutes only to fall just short. Not falling behind so early and by so much is obviously the focal point going forward, but the Flames can take solace in their effort to pull close.
“From an offensive-zone, possession game, guys were making plays, moving their feet,” forward Blake Coleman said after Friday’s practice. “We can build on that third period, carry on the momentum.”
Adding an extra element to this two-game trip, which also includes a stop in San Jose, the Flames will have their fathers (or a similar role model) with them on the road.
“I love this trip. I think it’s a really important one for the players,” coach Ryan Huska said. “You see a different side of the players when their dads are around, too. I like it when it comes game time, they want to give their best. They want to play well in front of their dads.”
The last time the club had a fathers’ trip, midway through the 2023-24 campaign, the Flames skated away with a pair of wins.
“We had a great trip. We ran the table,” Coleman said. “Hopefully they can keep tradition going here. It injects a bit of energy and keeps the room light.”