Expect fireworks as heated rivalry resumes
Get ready for yet another instalment of what might be the NHL’S most heated individual feud.
It’s pretty clear that Drew Doughty and Matthew Tkachuk have both been told to zip it instead of continuing to trade barbs through the media, but there’s certainly no love lost between these two.
What’s fun for fans is this rivalry seems to bring the best out of them. Look no further than an Oct. 8 meeting at the Saddledome, when Calgary’s Tkachuk scored twice and added an assist, while Doughty capped a three-point performance of his own with the overtime winner for Los Angeles … and then got an earful from his mom because of the way he celebrated.
Here are five things to watch for when the Kings line up against the Flames on Saturday in Calgary:
1. On a roll
The Flames have won three in a row — a spotless record under interim skipper Geoff Ward — and are riding a five-game point spree (4-0-1). There was plenty to celebrate in Thursday’s 4-3 triumph over the Buffalo Sabres, including Milan Lucic’s first goal in the Flaming C. The 31-year-old Lucic is now just one marker shy of the 200-goal plateau.
2. Go, Johnny, go
After Thursday’s first-star nod, Johnny Gaudreau was again working on the third line during practice the following afternoon. The struggling superstar snapped out of a 10-game goal-scoring slump with a power play marker against the Sabres and was robbed later on a glorious opportunity to count a second. He was promoted midgame, but was reunited on Friday with Lucic and Derek Ryan, both usually bottom-six sorts.
3. Kings’ court
The Kings are currently pulling up the rear in the Western Conference standings — prior to Friday’s date with the Edmonton Oilers, they had mustered just 11 wins — but they’ve had the Flames’ number this fall. The Kings have already prevailed in a pair of meetings between these Pacific Division foes. Ilya Kovalchuk has piled up four points in those matchups, but it’s been nearly a month since he was anything but a healthy scratch.
4. Adding Edwards
The Flames rounded out their coaching staff on Friday, announcing Ray Edwards will join Ward’s crew as an assistant. The 49-yearold Edwards, who had been working as Calgary’s director of player development, will be the eye in the sky. His resume includes a six-season stint as head coach of the Arizona Coyotes’ farm club, back when Brad Treliving was running the team’s AHL affiliate.
5. This ’n’ that
Flames forwards Sean Monahan and Matthew Tkachuk are riding four-game point streaks … The Kings arrived in Edmonton with a woeful 2-10-1 record on the road. They’ve been outscored by an ugly 54-26 margin in opposing barns … Saturday doubles as the Calgary Flames Foundation Awareness Game at the Saddledome, a chance to spotlight and celebrate their $3.8 million in donations during the 2018-19 campaign.