Kings’ 12-game scoring streak ends in loss to Flames – Orange County Register
CALGARY, Alta. — It took a spectacular night for Jacob Markstrom to cool the scorching Kings.
The Calgary Flames goaltender made 32 saves to back his team to a critical 2-1 win that ended the Kings’ 12-game franchise-record streak.
Sean Durzi scored the lone goal for the Kings, who are the hottest team in the NHL since the All-Star break. They had gone 10-0-2 in their last 12 games, outscoring their opponents 52-28. Nineteen of those goals had come in the previous three games, including an 8-2 win over Calgary eight days ago at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings remain two points behind Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division. Edmonton is third, just one point behind the Kings, after a 7-4 win at Las Vegas.
“I don’t think it was lack of effort, certainly today,” Kings captain Anze Kopitar said. “It was a tough game, a physical game. For the most part we did a good job. Obviously, unfortunately, we didn’t convert some of our chances.
Andrew Mangiapane and Walker Duehr scored for Calgary, which won its second straight game and improved to 7-3-2 in its last 12 games.
The Flames opened the night four points behind the Winnipeg Jets, who hold the last bye in the NHL’s Western Conference.
Starting for the 15th time in the last 16 games, it was one of Markstrom’s best games of the season.
The veteran made several important saves to ensure the Flames’ 2-1 first-period lead held the rest of the way.
“He was lively. Made big stops. He probably stole two points from us,” Calgary center Elias Lindholm said.
In his sixth start since being acquired in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Kings goaltender Joonas Korpisalo made 30 saves but lost for the first time as a King. He drops to 15-12-4 on the season.
“Both goaltenders were first and second stars in any order,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said. “They both played well. Korpi gave us some really good saves. He gave us a chance to have those good looks at the other end. It’s a shame we couldn’t reward him with at least one point to earn him a point.
Momentum swung midway through the first when Rasmus Andersson’s goal, which would have made it 2-0, was canceled after an offside review. Less than two minutes later, the Kings tied the game.
Durzi found himself with free space to skate from the blue line and he fired a shot into the top corner.
Calgary restored their lead at 17:59 when Duehr scored the game-winning goal, slipping a shot past Korpisalo on the side of the net. It was the sixth goal in 21 games for the fourth-line rookie from South Dakota.
FOLLOWING
The Kings continue their four-game road trip Thursday night in Edmonton.
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