Los Angeles @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 19, 2019 ) Calgary 1, Los Angeles 4

The Calgary Flames seek their fourth straight victory and third since coach Bill Peters resigned when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. With two games under his belt as Calgary's bench boss, Geoff Ward reworked the lines in an effort to ignite an offense that had scored 12 goals over its previous nine games, and the Flames have responded with a combined seven in wins over Ottawa and Buffalo.

The line shuffling seemed to fuel Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau - the team’s top scorer a season ago with 36 goals and 99 points - as the 26-year-old played a season-low 13:09 as part of the third line Thursday but still found the back of the net for the first time in 11 games. “(Gaudreau) had a lot of energy and was on a lot of pucks,” Ward told reporters. “He looked like his old self, making plays when he got across the blue line. He was really loose on the bench, there was no frustration on his part.” Los Angeles enters on a three-game losing streak after a 2-1 setback to Edmonton on Friday night - a defeat that left the Kings at the bottom of the Western Conference by four points. The Kings peppered 36 shots on Oilers goaltender Mikko Koskinen, continuing a trend that sees Los Angeles rank second in the NHL in shots per game (34.4) while at the same time tied with Calgary for the third-fewest goals (2.47).

TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), CBC, Sportsnet, City (Calgary)

ABOUT THE KINGS (11-17-2): Center Anze Kopitar has been the most consistent offensive performer this season as the 32-year-old has produced a team-best 10 goals and 17 assists. Defenseman Drew Doughty added an assist on Michael Amadio’s fifth goal of the season Friday, which leaves the former Norris Trophy winner second on the team with 13 assists and 18 points. The Kings have been unable to score on their last 10 power-play opportunities which gives them the second-worst success rate with the man advantage in the league while also owning the second-worst penalty kill.

ABOUT THE FLAMES (14-12-4): Known more for his physical play than his scoring prowess at this point in his career, forward Milan Lucic scored his first goal with the Flames on Thursday in his 28th game. “It was great, a little bit of a relief,” Lucic told the media regarding what was the game-winner. “Always nice to get the first one with your new team. I’m more than excited that I was able to do it in front of the hometown fans. They’ve stuck with me throughout the whole season so far and never gave up.” Forward Tobias Rieder played his 400th NHL game Thursday and celebrated with a goal on the penalty kill – Calgary’s first short-handed tally this season after scoring a league-best 18 a season ago.

OVERTIME

1. Los Angeles G Jack Campbell (4-5-1) is expected to be in the crease Saturday and has let in at least three goals in six of his last seven starts.

2. The Kings allow the fewest shots against per game (27.6) while surrendering the seventh-most goals (3.27).

3. Lucic is sitting at 199 career goals and will have the opportunity to score his 200th against his former team. The 13-year veteran had 20 goals in his lone season with the Kings in 2015-16.

PREDICTION: Flames 6, Kings 4