It seems somehow fitting that the Kings mark the halfway point of the season with a trip to Calgary. Not that anyone needs the reminder, but Calgary has been all too delighted to play the spoiler to the Kings’ spot in the standings over the past few years. And they’ve also got one of the game’s most irritating up-and-coming young players in Matthew Tkachuk, who’s made even more irritating by the fact that he’s actually good.
The Flames are in much of the same boat as the Oilers this season — underachieving according to most pre-season projections, but just successful enough to pull out a big win when they need it.