Calgary to win; totals-no opinion
The Kings started their seven-game homestand on Monday with an impressive game against Detroit, a game they would have won if not for an ill-advised pass in the defensive zone that led a late game-tying goal. The Kings lost in a shootout.
The Kings responded, however, with a relative clunker in Thursday’s 4-0 loss to Vancouver. The Kings faced a 5-on-3 penalty kill in the first five minutes, allowed a goal and never recovered, as they were shut out for the second time this season.
The goal for the Kings this season, in all reality, isn’t to make the playoffs. It’s to begin establishing the consistency of a winning team, something they will try to do Saturday night when they host another strong Western Conference team, the Calgary Flames
Despite their horrid start and the way the Wild jumped out of the blocks, who’d have guessed the Flames could be staring at sole possession of first place in the Northwest Division in the first week of November?
It’s pretty incredible for a team that won only once in its first five games to start the season.
Yet thanks to a five-game winning streak built on strong defense and great goaltending from Miikka Kiprusoff, that’s what the Flames could be staring at when they meet the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night in Southern California
Michael Cammalleri, who is on a scoring spree of his own with six points (three goals, six points) in the last four outings, netted a goal and an assist, and Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 29 shots.
The special teams continue to shine. The Flames scored two power-play goals and killed both Bruins power plays. The Flames have snuffed all but one of the 26 shorthanded situations they’ve been in over the past half-dozen games.
Flames have won 6 of last 7 meetings.
math model
cgy 4 la 3(so)----cgy 75%; over 50%
cgy 2 la 3(so)
cgy 4 la 3
cgy 4 la 1
cgy 5 la 3----cgy 60%; under 60%
cgy 3 la 1
cgy 1 la 2
cgy 2 la 3
cgy 1 la 0
play calgary to win