Quotes from the Flames locker room after 1-0 win in LA

In a 1-0 game, it wasn't that surprising when the goaltenders were selected as the top two stars, with Calgary's Mikka Kiprusoff receiving number one and LA's Jonathan Quick getting second. The third star went to Mike Cammalleri, who scored the lone goal of the game. It was his fifth goal in 14 games since returning to the Flames in a trade with Montreal.

After the game, here's what was being said back in the Flames locker room...

Captain Jarome Iginla:

On his goalie's performance - "He’s played as good as I’ve seen him play in his career and that’s counting the Vezina year. All year he’s been outstanding, it’s amazing. He’s having the best year that I can remember. He’s enjoying it too, though."

On moving into eighth place in the Western Conference - "It’s a big step for us. We look at it as ‘if it didn’t go our way tonight, we could be four points out again by two teams and had kind of been getting close and getting close.’ To finally get there is a big step for us. We believe that we are going in the right direction. We’ve played some tough games and tough teams, different style games, road games, and we’ve been chipping away and stuff. It feels good. It’s been a long time; I don’t think we’ve been in a playoff spot all year."

Forward Tom Kostopoulos:

Flames at Kings pregame tidbits - plus ticket contest

A few pregame notes on tonight's Kings-Flames match-up at The Stapler...

- LA has beaten Calgary three straight games at home, all by the final score of 2-1.

- Curtis Glencross, the Flames leading goal scorer (with 18) was sent back to Calgary after suffering a lower body injury in San Jose on Tuesday.

- The Flames are expected to have four former Kings in the line-up tonight (and it could have been five if Raitis Ivanans wasn't sent back to the minors a few weeks ago). Their projected line combos are:

Mike Cammalleri - Mikael Backlund - Jarome Iginla
Blake Comeau - Olli Jokinen - Tim Jackman
Tom Kostopolous - Blair Jones - Lee Stempniak
Lance Bouma - Roman Horak - Matt Stajan

Note: The Flames played with a extra defenseman vs the Sharks. If they do that again tonight, Horak will likely be scratched in favor of Anton Babchuk.

- Miikka Kiprusoff will start for the Flames and the Kings will counter with Jonathan Quick in net.  Kipper is 17-8-3 lifetime vs. LA, with a 2.17 goals-against average.  However, at Staples Center he's only 6-5-2.  Quick is 5-3-0 vs the Flames overall, with a stellar 1.84 GAA.

- Coach Darryl Sutter is not expected to make any line-up changes tonight, so expect to see the following line combos:

Dustin Brown - Anze Kopitar - Justin Williams
Dustin Penner - Mike Richards - Jarret Stoll
Brad Richardson - Andrei Loktionov - Trevor Lewis
Kyle Clifford - Colin Fraser - Trent Hunter

Finally, we'll be giving away a free pair of tickets in tonight's MayorsManor First Goal contest. It's easy to play, simply leave a comment below with the LA player you think will score first vs. the Flames...or reply to the facebook / twitter updates that will come out around 6:30pm. All correct answers will be pooled together and one random winner will get a pair of tickets to see the Kings and Avalanche on Saturday night. Good luck!

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

Iginla and other Flames on Sutter as the next Kings coach

By now you've probably read our 'Making the case for Darryl Sutter' article posted earlier today. Now, how about a trip up to Calgary to see what a few of the guys surrounding Sutter's former team are saying...

- Flames assistant captain, and former Kings center, Craig Conroy shares a story about Sutter than ends with "From that moment on, I knew everything Darryl did wasn’t personal. It was about winning." - from the Calgary Sun (link to full story)

- "To me, (coaching) is where Darryl’s niche is,” said Flames coach Brent Sutter, Darryl’s younger brother. “I believe it’s something Darryl’s always wanted to continue to do. When he was coaching, he was a good coach." - the Vancouver Sun (link to full story)

- And then there's this, Flames captain Jarome Iginla weighing in...

Word Association with Theo Fleury

When you think Flames vs. Kings it's hard not to conjure up an image of Theo Fleury.

He brought more passion to a single game of hockey than some players bring in an entire season. Over multiple teams in a career that lasted more than 1,000 games in the NHL, he epitomized the line 'You hate him, unless he's on your team - then you love him.'

There's no denying his success on the ice. He finished his career with 455 goals, hoisted the Stanley Cup and won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada.

Just hours before the Kings play another critical game in Calgary tonight, I had the honor of speaking with Theo about a variety of topics, including several of his projects away from the game of hockey.

Of course, we often found our way back to the NHL though.

Regarding some of those legendary contests back in the late '80s, early '90s, Theo was quick to point out "I loved playing at the Great Western Forum, especially after they acquired Gretzky. The atmosphere was always electric, even though many people there didn't like me."

Flipping the tables a bit, I asked which NHL players he likes in today's game. Fresh off the NHL All-Star Draft last weekend, what would Team Theo look like?

"Marc-Andre Fleury, my brother from another mother, would be in goal. Shea Weber and Duncan Keith on defense. Up front, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, paired with Jarome Iginla."

Still loyal to the Flames after all these years.

Although it provided a perfect transition for us to talk about the persistent rumors that Iginla might be traded soon. It's a business - something Fleury knows having been traded himself (he says he never wanted to leave Calgary, but there were money issues) - so, while he knows it's a possibility, he just doesn't envision a scenario where Iginla gets moved. Even more so, he's insistent that Iginla deserves to retire someday having spent his entire career with the Flames.

Finally, we played word association...

Lanny McDonald - class
Gary Bettman -interesting
Tomas Sandstrom - hard to play against
Luc Robitlaille - great hands
Kelly Buchberger - little talent, hell of a career
Sandy McCarthy - best friend
Sean Avery - different
Eric Lindros - strong
Mark Messier - leadership
Ryan Smyth - pain in the ass

I hope to have Theo back on for an extended conversation before the Flames come to Los Angeles next month.

Until then, check out his book Playing With Fire. He lays it all out there and takes readers inside the mind one of the most intriguing players to ever grace a sheet of ice.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL  
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor



RELATED ARTICLES:

Interview with Kerry Fraser - tells a very raw and emotional story about Fleury as a NY Ranger

LA Kings Players on Calgary Captain Jarome Iginla

Revisiting a Rivalry - Kings vs. Flames

Interview with Kelly Buchberger

Interview with Shea Weber

LA Kings Players on Calgary Captain Jarome Iginla

It's February, which means the hockey world is alive with rumors everywhere you turn.

Sure, there are plenty of stories out there suggesting Jarome Iginla, the Calgary Flames captain, is coming to LA. However, if you don't want to believe their GM - who has said he won't be trading him - at least know this, if something was going to happen, it certainly won't be before the Heritage Classic on February 20.

So, for now, we can focus on the game. With the Los Angeles Kings in Calgary tonight it must be brought up that they haven't won a game in the Saddledome since December 2005 and are now 0-10-0 in their last 10 visits.

After a tough start to the New Year, they seem to have found their stride more recently, going 4-0-1 mark in their last five games.

The game tonight will not only be a chance to work on those streaks, it also presents the challenge of shutting down one of the best players in the league.

Recently, I asked several Kings' players what it's like to play against Iginla...

Ryan Smyth - I think he's turned it on really well as of late. He's a big factor for that team and it's a matter of shutting him down at times. He has a great shot and hopefully we can limit his chances.

Michal Handzus - He's one one of the top players in the league, for sure. He's one of those guys who's very good with the puck. He has a great shot. He can beat you so many ways. He's very strong. He's a gritty guy with great hands. You have to play a good all around game against him, with really good checking and always know where he is because sometimes he just disappears and then he reappears in the slot. He has a great shot and a great release. So, you need to always know where he is on the ice.

Anze Kopitar - It's always tough to play against him. He works so hard. At the same time, he has a ton of skill. His shot is really deadly and it's burned us a few times when we've played against the Flames. So, you always want to be aware when he's on the ice and make sure you have everything under control.

For more Kings and Flames related news, be sure to check out the interview with Kerry Fraser from yesterday. It's an incredible conversation and he doesn't pull any punches when talking about the biggest names in the game - including Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Alexander Ovechkin and many others. Perhaps the most raw moment though is his description of a situation involving Theo Fleury. Check it out here.  It's an absolute can't miss!

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor.com



RELATED ARTICLES:

Interview with Kerry Fraser

Painting by Numbers with Ryan Smyth

10 Tidbits on Michal Handzus

Kopitar Comes Close at NHL All Star Game

Revisiting a Rivalry - looking back at Flames vs. Kings history
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photo courtesy of Michael Zampelli

...And Now You're Caught Up (2/1/2011)

It's been forever since the Kings played a game, right?

Well, not exactly. It only feels that way.

Later tonight they'll begin what they hope is their playoff push over the final 32 games of the season.

To help get you back in the swing of things, here are ten stories you may have missed during the five-day All Star break...

* Jonathan Bernier will make his first career start tonight vs. the Minnesota Wild. Coach Terry Murray actually made the announcement prior to the Kings final game before the break. Jonathan Quick will start tomorrow vs. Edmonton.

* Andrew Brunette will play his 1000th game for the Wild tonight. Keep an eye out - later today we'll have an article up detailing some of his accomplishments, like only missing three games since the start of 2001-02. In 42 career games vs. the Kings he's posted 30 points (8g, 22a).

* Now for your scary stat of the day - according to the 'strength of schedule' table shown here, the five teams with he most difficult schedule in the second half are: Phoenix, San Jose, Edmonton, Chicago and Los Angeles. So, the good news is, three of the other four teams facing tough times are clubs the Kings are battling for a playoff spot in the West. More good news? Teams 6-10 are: Nashville, Anaheim, Columbus, Dallas and Calgary. Thus, the West will probably continue to be a dog fight all the way until the very end.

STAT CHECK - LA vs CALGARY

Besides the two points, losing to Calgary in the second game of the year meant little in the big picture. It was a throw away game, coming on the second night of a back to back weekend series. More importantly, it came after an emotionally charged opening night in Vancouver just 24 hours prior.

This Kings team isn't filled with Gretzky, Robitaille and Blake. They don't hate the Flames, circa 1990. After making the playoffs last season for the first time in eight years - and the first time ever for most of the team - losing to the Canucks is what hurt. Thus, that's the game that's going to get them up this season.

So, that was the excuse last time.

How about the other games over the last few years, where the Kings have dropped 14 of 17 to the Flames?

Other stats to consider...

* Jarome Iginla - for all the talk a few weeks ago that he was about to be traded, perhaps even to the Kings, he's still with the Flames. In 20 career games at Staples Center he has 23 points (13g, 10a).

* Olli Jokinen - he's one of those players that "newer" Kings fans probably don't have a connection to. For those unfamiliar, think Brayden Schenn 10+ years ago. At the 1997 NHL Draft the Kings selected him third overall, behind only Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. He was supposed to be a a big time center with tons of promise. Instead of being the guy in LA for the next decade, he was traded for Ziggy Palffy a few months before the Kings moved downtown. In 10 career games at Staples Center he has seven points (4g, 3a).

* Alex Tanguay - he's a big fan of MayorsManor. Enough said.

* For all the talk about the weird schedule this year, how about last year - where the Kings played the Flames three times over a 10 game stretch in December? Was that really necessary? LA went 1-2 with their only win coming at Staples Center on December 7 by a 2-1 final. That was the Kings’ first victory over Calgary since February 2008.

* Their overall power play percentages are nearly dead-even, 14.6% for LA and 14.9% for Calgary. However, LA's penalty kill is much better, 86.6% compared to 83.3, including a perfect 43-for-43 at home.

* Justin Williams has arguably been the Kings' best player this season. How has he fared against the Flames?  In 11 career games he has just one goal...and one assist to keep that goal from getting too lonely in the stats column.

*  How about Dustin Brown?  Well, #23 has played 23 career games vs. the Flames and produced just nine points (3g, 6a).  Only one of his three goals has come at Staples Center.  However, he did have the lone goal against them earlier this year in Calgary.  So, that's somewhat encouraging.

* Ryan Smyth has 20 goals in 71 games vs. the Flames.  Yet, most of those came when he was an Oiler.  Not to mention, 12 of the 20 have come at the Saddledome.

* Kopitar, you say?  Anze has found success against the Flames, with 14 points (7g, 7a) in 17 career games.

Regardless of the stats listed above, this game will more than likely come down to goaltending.  Jonathan Quick and Miikka Kiprusoff are two of the best in the Western Conference.  History suggests it will be tough to get the puck by either of them.



The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor


RELATED ARTICLES:

Remembering a Rivalry - Kings vs. Flames (w/ video of one of the best Kings goals ever scored)

Painting By Numbers With Ryan Smyth - his thoughts on key milestone games

The Complete Story on Brayden Schenn

Kings-Flames - A Playoff Preview? - published December 2009

Kings-Flames - By The Numbers - published December 2009

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Season Preview w/ Pierre LeBrun of ESPN / HNIC

So, you think you love the Kings?

Well, if you live in LA, you're thinking too small.

Pierre LeBrun is taking his admiration all across the U.S. and Canada via outlets like ESPN and the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.

The veteran hockey journalist has some serious love for the Kings this season and he's not shy about it. Even though he's a self-admitted metal head, due to his soft spot for John Mellencamp let's just say that what he's feeling for the Kings right now Hurts So Good.

Too cheesy? Fine!

In this exclusive MayorsManor interview he shares his opinions and discoveries from a recent trip through camps in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Jose and Vancouver. It's the latest in our Season Preview series - today we're joined by Pierre LeBrun...

MM: As you went on your training camp tour, what was the most surprising thing you observed with the Kings?

A Rubber Match, of sorts

The Kings and Flames have met twice already this season. And by some strange stoke of scheduling, the teams are playing each other three times this month in an 11 day period.

Will familiarity breed contempt?

Game one in November was a lopsided affair, Flames captain Jarome Iginla had a hat trick and Calgary downed LA 5-2.

With the way the Western Conference standings are starting to shake out these two teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs. Thus, I prefer to think of this month as a three-game playoff preview.

The Kings took game one of the fictitious mini series, a tight 2-1 contest in LA on December 7th. Game two is tonight and the final match-up will be Dec 30th, also in Calgary.

Injuries have to be a big part of the pre-game story. The Kings have been playing without Ryan Smyth for quite some time already. Then more recently Wayne Simmonds, Jack Johnson, Jarret Stoll and Randy Jones have joined him on the sidelines.

Returning to the Kings line-up is defenseman Alec Martinez, he played one game earlier in the season (opening game of the season, where he was a -2 with 16 minutes of ice time). Corey Elkins will also play again, after making his NHL debut Tuesday night in Edmonton.

Over the past few years Miikka Kiprusoff has been one of the best goalies in the league, if not the world. Jonathan Quick will once again try to outplay him and prove to his doubters that he is for real and a netminder whose status is on the rise.

While Quick and his teammates have had a great month so far, the Flames have lost three straight entering tonight. Can the Kings keep rolling and hand Calgary their fourth straight loss?

It wont be easy. Not only is LA all banged up, putting the line combinations in disarray; they're also finishing up a horrific part of the schedule where they will have played six games in nine nights. Not to mention the fact that the Flames have beaten the Kings in their last seven trips to Calgary.

No worries says coach Terry Murray. It's just another game. One team will pick up two points. Coaches usually follow that with 'whichever team wants it more.'

After it's over the Kings will fly home to begin a much needed break for the holidays.

One19

www.twitter.com/Mayor119