<p><em><b>Be sure to check Betway for the latest Flames game <a href="https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1676167924124000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2egXHUEIzc9YiW_hwAAEHw">NHL odds</a>!</b></em></p>
<p>The Calgary Flames headed into Los Angeles on Monday night for a very important game with the Kings. A win would move the Flames within two points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.</p>
<p>The Flames did not win. For the bulk of the contest they were the second-best team, ultimately losing to the Kings by an 8-2 score.</p>
<p></p>
<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames were fairly decent in the opening six or seven minutes. The Kings out-shot them 4-3 early on, but the only dangerous chance for either team was an odd-man chance for Mikael Backlund. Then the Kings found another gear and dominated the rest of the period with their fore-checking and smart puck management.</p>
<p>The Kings opened the scoring midway through the first period. MacKenzie Weegar challenged Carl Grundstrom at the blueline, but the Kings threw the puck deep into the Flames zone. Grundstrom beat Weegar in a foot-race from the point, accepted a pass from Rasmus Kupari and chipped it past Jacob Markstrom to give the Kings a 1-0 lead.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carl Grundstrom gets the Kings on the board. </p>
<p>1-0 LA <a href="https://t.co/DOdC4LG65o">pic.twitter.com/DOdC4LG65o</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638011462357749762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>A few mintues later, the Kings made it 2-0 off a nice bit of forechecking. Quinton Byfield&#8217;s forecheck led to a Chris Tanev turnover. The puck was flung out to the right point for Drew Doughty. Doughty held onto the puck, waited for traffic, and fired a shot that went through traffic – and between Anze Kopitar&#8217;s legs – and beat Markstrom inside the far post.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Drew Doughty scores on a shot from the point. </p>
<p>2-0 LA <a href="https://t.co/oetyuk45ZA">pic.twitter.com/oetyuk45ZA</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638013097985347586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Less than a minute later, the Kings forecheck made it 3-0. Blake Lizotte knocked Nikita Zadorov off the puck below the Flames&#8217; goal line. Alex Iafallo collected the puck, fed it to Gabriel Vilardi in the slot for a quick tap-in past Markstrom.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Kings take advantage of a Nikita Zadorov turnover. </p>
<p>Gabe Vilardi gets the goal. </p>
<p>3-0 LA <a href="https://t.co/fnMjDjR8kK">pic.twitter.com/fnMjDjR8kK</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638013543453978629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>With Mikael Backlund in the penalty box, the Kings&#8217; power play made it 4-0. Adrian Kempe made a nice cross-zone pass to Viktor Arvidsson, who blasted a one-timer past Markstrom.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Viktor Arvidsson scores on the power play. great cross ice pass by Adrian Kempe. </p>
<p>4-0 LA <a href="https://t.co/nWdyCZir1F">pic.twitter.com/nWdyCZir1F</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638015657320251393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Early in the second period, the Flames got a measure of revenge by spoiling Pheonix Copley&#8217;s shutout bid. Backlund disrupted a Kings possession below their red line with a poke check. The puck drifted to Elias Lindholm in the corner, and his feed to Tyler Toffoli in the slot was shot past Copley to cut the Kings lead to 4-1.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well that&#39;s a good start to the second period! </p>
<p>Tyler Toffoli scores on the power play! </p>
<p>4-1 LA <a href="https://t.co/bH3z7CKxZ5">pic.twitter.com/bH3z7CKxZ5</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638022347272880128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>But that&#8217;s as close as the Flames got. Alex Edler sprung Kempe into the Flames zone on a breakway and his shot trickled under Markstrom&#8217;s arm and in to make it 5-1 Kings.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Adrian Kempe scores on a breakaway. </p>
<p>5-1 LA <a href="https://t.co/KVWWsYNM8m">pic.twitter.com/KVWWsYNM8m</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638025554069954560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Kempe made it 6-1 Kings off the rush a little bit later. He used Tanev as a screen and fired a puck between his legs (and under Markstrom&#8217;s arm short-side).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Adrian Kempe rips a shot past Jacob Markstrom. </p>
<p>Pure domination by the Kings right now. </p>
<p>6-1 LA <a href="https://t.co/hk1ooW6x0j">pic.twitter.com/hk1ooW6x0j</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638026873103093760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Dan Vladar came into the game in relief of Markstrom for the third period.</p>
<p>The Flames got another goal midway through the third period. Blake Coelman fired a shot on goal after a face-off win from a bad angle. The puck blooped into the net-front area and a pinching Noah Hanifin jammed in the rebound to cut the Kings&#8217; lead to 6-2.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cue the comeback! </p>
<p>Noah Hanifin makes it a 6-2 game!!!! <a href="https://t.co/UmCVvjoPCV">pic.twitter.com/UmCVvjoPCV</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638039372896546819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>But the Kings iced things completely on a four-on-three power play. Mikey Anderson received a shot, looked for a pass and, seeing none, decided to shoot. He picked the corner on Vladar to make it 7-2.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mikey Anderson scores on the power play. </p>
<p>7-2 Kings. <a href="https://t.co/PbuIVmnLjD">pic.twitter.com/PbuIVmnLjD</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638041978863779843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Grundstrom scored another goal off the rush. Kupari stole the puck from Jakob Pelletier inside the offensive blueline and on a two-on-one, passed to Grundstrom, who beat Vladar short-side over the shoulder to make it 8-2 Kings.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Carl Grundstrom scores his second goal of the game and it&#39;s a beauty. </p>
<p>8-2 Kings <a href="https://t.co/ffqvoRWNeb">pic.twitter.com/ffqvoRWNeb</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Munnich (@RingOfFireCGY) <a href="https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638043071568019456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2><strong>Why the Flames lost<br />
</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames had all sorts of issues dealing with the speed of the Kings&#8217; forecheck. In the defensive zone, that speed caused the Flames to make all sorts of bad decisions with the puck, leading to turnovers and chances (and goals) against. In transition, that speed disrupted anything the Flames were trying to do coming out of their zone and into the neutral zone, which served to make the Flames&#8217; offensive play equal parts hesitant and slow.</p>
<p>Calgary&#8217;s goaltending wasn&#8217;t spectacular, but on the six goals that Markstrom gave up, you could make a strong argument that he had zero chance on four or five of &#8217;em.</p>
<p><em><strong>Flames Game Day content is presented by Betway!</strong></em></p>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-101226" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="222" srcset="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg.jpg 740w, https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg-300x90.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" /></h2>
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
<p>We respectfully decline to name a Red Warrior for this game. It&#8217;s nearly impossible to suss out positives in a game where the hockey club gives up eight goals and loses by six.</p>
<h2><strong>Turning point</strong></h2>
<p>The last 12:43 of the first period completely killed the Flames&#8217; chances in this game. Four goals on 10 unanswered shots? Good night.</p>
<h2><strong>This and that</strong></h2>
<p>Backlund&#8217;s assist on Toffoli&#8217;s goal was the Swede&#8217;s 300th helper of his NHL career.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Flames allow 4 first-period goals for the first time since Nov 15, 2017 vs Detroit</p>
<p>It&#39;s the first time a Darryl Sutter coached team has allowed 4 goals in the 1st since Oct 31, 2014 (Kings vs Detroit)</p>
<p>&mdash; Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/1638016674635960321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>This was the first time the Flames had given up eight goals in game since an 8-4 loss to Chicago on Feb. 15, 2020. A six goal loss was the club&#8217;s largest margin of defeat since a 9-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, 2018.</p>
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
<p>The Flames (31-25-15) are headed down the road to Anaheim. They visit the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center.</p>

<em><b>Be sure to check Betway for the latest Flames game <a href="https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://betway.com/en/sports/grp/ice-hockey/north-america/nhl&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1676167924124000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2egXHUEIzc9YiW_hwAAEHw">NHL odds</a>!</b></em>

The Calgary Flames headed into Los Angeles on Monday night for a very important game with the Kings. A win would move the Flames within two points of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Flames did not win. For the bulk of the contest they were the second-best team, ultimately losing to the Kings by an 8-2 score.


<h2><strong>The rundown</strong></h2>
The Flames were fairly decent in the opening six or seven minutes. The Kings out-shot them 4-3 early on, but the only dangerous chance for either team was an odd-man chance for Mikael Backlund. Then the Kings found another gear and dominated the rest of the period with their fore-checking and smart puck management.

The Kings opened the scoring midway through the first period. MacKenzie Weegar challenged Carl Grundstrom at the blueline, but the Kings threw the puck deep into the Flames zone. Grundstrom beat Weegar in a foot-race from the point, accepted a pass from Rasmus Kupari and chipped it past Jacob Markstrom to give the Kings a 1-0 lead.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638011462357749762

A few mintues later, the Kings made it 2-0 off a nice bit of forechecking. Quinton Byfield's forecheck led to a Chris Tanev turnover. The puck was flung out to the right point for Drew Doughty. Doughty held onto the puck, waited for traffic, and fired a shot that went through traffic – and between Anze Kopitar's legs – and beat Markstrom inside the far post.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638013097985347586

Less than a minute later, the Kings forecheck made it 3-0. Blake Lizotte knocked Nikita Zadorov off the puck below the Flames' goal line. Alex Iafallo collected the puck, fed it to Gabriel Vilardi in the slot for a quick tap-in past Markstrom.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638013543453978629

With Mikael Backlund in the penalty box, the Kings' power play made it 4-0. Adrian Kempe made a nice cross-zone pass to Viktor Arvidsson, who blasted a one-timer past Markstrom.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638015657320251393

Early in the second period, the Flames got a measure of revenge by spoiling Pheonix Copley's shutout bid. Backlund disrupted a Kings possession below their red line with a poke check. The puck drifted to Elias Lindholm in the corner, and his feed to Tyler Toffoli in the slot was shot past Copley to cut the Kings lead to 4-1.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638022347272880128

But that's as close as the Flames got. Alex Edler sprung Kempe into the Flames zone on a breakway and his shot trickled under Markstrom's arm and in to make it 5-1 Kings.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638025554069954560

Kempe made it 6-1 Kings off the rush a little bit later. He used Tanev as a screen and fired a puck between his legs (and under Markstrom's arm short-side).

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638026873103093760

Dan Vladar came into the game in relief of Markstrom for the third period.

The Flames got another goal midway through the third period. Blake Coelman fired a shot on goal after a face-off win from a bad angle. The puck blooped into the net-front area and a pinching Noah Hanifin jammed in the rebound to cut the Kings' lead to 6-2.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638039372896546819

But the Kings iced things completely on a four-on-three power play. Mikey Anderson received a shot, looked for a pass and, seeing none, decided to shoot. He picked the corner on Vladar to make it 7-2.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638041978863779843

Grundstrom scored another goal off the rush. Kupari stole the puck from Jakob Pelletier inside the offensive blueline and on a two-on-one, passed to Grundstrom, who beat Vladar short-side over the shoulder to make it 8-2 Kings.

https://twitter.com/RingOfFireCGY/status/1638043071568019456
<h2><strong>Why the Flames lost
</strong></h2>
The Flames had all sorts of issues dealing with the speed of the Kings' forecheck. In the defensive zone, that speed caused the Flames to make all sorts of bad decisions with the puck, leading to turnovers and chances (and goals) against. In transition, that speed disrupted anything the Flames were trying to do coming out of their zone and into the neutral zone, which served to make the Flames' offensive play equal parts hesitant and slow.

Calgary's goaltending wasn't spectacular, but on the six goals that Markstrom gave up, you could make a strong argument that he had zero chance on four or five of 'em.

<em><strong>Flames Game Day content is presented by Betway!</strong></em>
<h2><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-101226" src="https://publish.flamesnation.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/Betway_Rhomboid_doubleSided_EvenSpacing-svg.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="222" /></h2>
<h2><strong>Red Warrior</strong></h2>
We respectfully decline to name a Red Warrior for this game. It's nearly impossible to suss out positives in a game where the hockey club gives up eight goals and loses by six.
<h2><strong>Turning point</strong></h2>
The last 12:43 of the first period completely killed the Flames' chances in this game. Four goals on 10 unanswered shots? Good night.
<h2><strong>This and that</strong></h2>
Backlund's assist on Toffoli's goal was the Swede's 300th helper of his NHL career.

https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/1638016674635960321

This was the first time the Flames had given up eight goals in game since an 8-4 loss to Chicago on Feb. 15, 2020. A six goal loss was the club's largest margin of defeat since a 9-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Oct. 25, 2018.
<h2><strong>Up next</strong></h2>
The Flames (31-25-15) are headed down the road to Anaheim. They visit the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center.

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