Preview:
The Los Angeles Kings would like to create a bit more separation in the logjam that is the Western Conference playoff race, while the Calgary Flames are desperate to gain ground.
One of them will leave Staples Center feeling they're headed in the right direction Monday night.
The Kings (40-26-6) are tied with Chicago and Nashville for fifth in the West, but they're all just one point ahead of the eighth-place tie between Nashville and Anaheim while the Flames (37-27-10) lurk two points back in 10th.
Los Angeles hopes to begin creating some breathing room as it heads into the final 10 games of the regular season with eight against teams in contention.
The Kings, however, failed to capitalize on one of those matchups Saturday, falling 2-1 to the Ducks as Jonathan Quick gave up a goal to Corey Perry 1:32 into overtime. However, Dustin Brown salvaged a point by scoring midway through the third period as Los Angeles gained at least one in the standings for the 21st time in 25 games (16-4-5).
"It's a team we'd obviously like to beat in regulation to put some more space between us," defenseman Willie Mitchell said. "We deserved better, but we're going to focus on the positives."
Having Brown and Anze Kopitar find the net consistently would help. Brown has two goals over the last three games after getting just one in the previous 11. His 23 goals are second on the team to Kopitar's 25.
Kopitar, though, has come up empty on six shots over the last two games after collecting eight goals and nine assists in the prior 11.
Brown has two goals and one assist in three season meetings with the Flames, helping the Kings win two. The Los Angeles captain set up Kopitar for the eventual game-winner in a 2-1 home win Dec. 9 before the Kings needed a shootout to take the most recent matchup 4-3 at Calgary on Feb. 5.
Kopitar's goal in the last meeting at Staples Center is his lone tally in his last nine games against the Flames with six ending in Los Angeles defeats.
Calgary missed a chance to gain a share of the final playoff spot Sunday, as it suffered the same fate as the Kings did in their last game. The Flames overcame a three-goal, first-period deficit only to allow Perry to score in overtime during a 5-4 loss at Anaheim to open a four-game trip.
"We gotta move on quickly," coach Brent Sutter said. "You gotta dissect what took place (Sunday), handle it the right way and start getting ready for our next game there. We gotta start getting ready for the Kings."
Miikka Kiprusoff may be wise to heed Sutter's advice if he's back in net. He was pulled Sunday after allowing three goals on five shots in the opening 5:49, giving him a 4.25 goals-against average in his last four starts.
Kiprusoff has a 2.41 GAA while losing the last two meetings with the Kings after winning eight of the previous nine with a 1.34 GAA and one shutout.
Backup Henrik Karlsson could face Los Angeles for the first time after stopping 26 of 28 shots in place of Kiprusoff on Sunday. The rookie has lost his last three appearances, despite a 2.21 GAA.
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