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Flames Post-Game: Flames overcome slow start to beat Kings
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryan Pike
Jan 12, 2025, 00:45 ESTUpdated: Jan 13, 2025, 19:37 EST
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Folks, sometimes you’re not going to be at your best. But you hope that you off-days at your job are good enough to get by. On Saturday evening, the Calgary Flames had a tough start against the visiting Los Angeles Kings.
But the Flames’ “off” game was buoyed by some strong goaltending, and that gave them enough wiggle room to get themselves going. The Flames managed to come from behind to beat the Kings by a 2-1 score.

The rundown

The Flames looked rusty early and the Kings looked like a team that played well enough to beat the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night. The Flames were peppered with shots and couldn’t seem to play a connected game, as the Kings forecheck really frustrated them early on.
The Kings got on the scoresheet midway through the period after a Ryan Lomberg attempted exit pass to Martin Popsisil could not find its intended recipient. Instead, Kings blueliner Jacob Moverare received the puck at the blueline and fired a shot that beat Dustin Wolf to give the Kings a 1-0 lead.
First period shots were 17-4 Kings. Via Natural Stat Trick, five-on-five scoring chances were 6-5 Kings (high-danger chances were 3-2 Flames).
The Kings kept pressing early, but the Flames managed to fend them off.
Midway through the period, the Flames tied things up. Blake Coleman won a battle for the puck and passed to Matt Coronato near the top of the face-off circles. He skated down towards the dot and fired a shot that beat David Rittich to tie the game at 1-1.
The game slowed to a crawl after that goal, as the Flames played within their structure and the Kings seemed to lose steam.
Second period shots were 6-5 Flames. Five-on-five scoring chances were 9-4 Flames (high-danger chances were 3-2 Flames).
The Flames took the lead early in the third period on the power play after Martin Pospisil was shoved into Rittich. Coronato’s initial shot was stopped, but Jonathan Huberdeau spun and scored on the rebound to give the Flames a 2-1 lead.
The Kings pressed to try to tie the game, but the Flames did a nice job collapsing in front of Wolf to defend. They held on for a 2-1 victory.
Third period shots were 10-8 Kings. Five-on-five scoring chances were 8-4 Kings (high-danger chances were 5-0 Kings).

Why the Flames won

The Flames were not any good early on. They were flat and looked disconnected. But Wolf was really good for them early and allowed them to weather the storm. The Kings faded in the second, the Flames found their rhythm, and they locals managed to take over the game.

Red Warrior

Let’s give this to Coronato, who barely edges out Wolf for this prestigious honour. Coronato had two primary points and oodles and oodles of good scoring opportunities.

Turning point

We’ll give it to Huberdeau’s game-winner. It was the goal the Flames needed at the time they needed it, especially given how little space there was to manuever at five-on-five for either team.

This and that

Ryan Lomberg had two fights in this game. He fought Tanner Jeannot in the second period.
Lomberg also fought Kyle Burroughs in the third period after a big Burroughs hit on Walker Duehr. (It was Lomberg’s second multi-fight game of the year; he has six fights in total on the season.)
The Flames wore Los Angeles Fire Department helmet decals in solidarity with the Kings.
The Flames played a video tribute to the late Al MacNeil during the first TV timeout.

Up next

The Flames (20-14-7) are headed back on the road. They’re headed to the Windy City to visit Rick Ball, and then play a hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night.
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