Despite the Kings riding a four-game winning streak and arriving in Canada with a little momentum on their side, veteran Drew Doughty is probably a little bit bummed today.
If there is one thing the all-world defenseman loves more than winning, it’s being the villain in a rival team’s building. Even with Los Angeles and Calgary fighting for points in the Pacific Division standings, the absence of Matthew Tkachuk from Daryl Sutter’s Flames lineup takes a slight edge off things.
While Doughty did his best to not give any extra attention to the pesky forward when talking to media in recent years, it was a conversation that always ramped up several notches when the two teams played north of the border.
LA coach Todd McLellan was asked about Sutter at the end of his press conference Saturday night and had this to say about his peer:
“How can you not respect Darryl and his family? I’ve known the Sutter’s for years; played with some of them, coached against all of them. But I’m a fan of his press conferences. He does a real good job of answering questions, I think.”
Well, that wouldn’t be a sentiment shared by everybody in the media. Taking nothing away from Sutter’s accomplishments on the ice and behind the bench, his post-game act can wear thin for those trying to cover the team. Nonetheless, many fans and others enjoy some of his antics.
https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1586788416716414980?t=Je0m3fdqPL5vBh6uf9qo0g&s=19
As for the Kings, Monday should bring a return to normalcy. Prior to leaving on their four-game road trip, LA GM Rob Blake made several roster moves. However, we are expecting McClellan to only make one small change to the lineup he’s been using of late, replacing Brendan Lemieux at LW4 with Jaret Anderson-Dolan.
LA Kings Projected Lineup vs. Calgary Flames
Kempe – Kopitar – Vilardi
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Fiala – Kupari – Grundstrom
JAD – Lizotte – Kaliyev
Anderson – Doughty
Durzi – Roy
Edler – Walker
Quick
Petersen
Scratches: Andersson, Moverare
Long-term Injured Reserve: Iafallo
ICYMI: We posted an important Quinton Byfield story recently. See below for a link.
Additional Game Notes
Puck drop is set for 5:30pm PST and will be televised by Bally Sports.
#Flames lines and pairings at practice Sunday:
Ruzicka-Lindholm-Toffoli
Lucic-Kadri-Mangiapane
Huberdeau-Backlund-Lewis
Coleman-Dube-Ritchie
Rooney
Hanifin-Andersson
Weegar-Tanev
Zadorov-DeSimone
MackeyMarkstrom
Vladar— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) November 13, 2022
Jacob Markstrom starting tonight vs. Los Angeles. #Flames
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) November 14, 2022
Huberdeau returns tonight vs. Los Angeles after missing three games. Will start on a line with Backlund and Lewis.
Rooney will sit as a healthy scratch based on optional morning skate. DeSimone replacing Mackey on the blueline.
Markstrom starts in net. #Flames
— Pat Steinberg (@Fan960Steinberg) November 14, 2022
Darryl Sutter on the rationale behind putting Huberdeau on the third line for his return to the lineup tonight:
“Because we’ve slotted him everywhere else and it hasn’t worked.”He’ll play alongside Mikael Backlund and Trevor Lewis.
— Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) November 14, 2022
RELATED CONTENT:
Kings Roster Moves: Clarke to AHL, Lemieux to IR, Pair of Prospects Recalled
Lineup image created by ALo Images
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I’m tired of all the excuses people use for QB. So many players drafted in his class, as you reported, have played 100 NHL games and one more is 5 games away. QB is going to rookie camp and as of last night, he skated around like he was in the ice capades. Blake has pressed every button so beautifully to date but to pick this guy over Stutzle (my personal pick) or Raymond et al for the sake of diversity over talent delays the rebuild or progress (semantics). This kid needs to sh** or get off the pot or, include him in a trade package for what we need to capably fill his slot, a left shot defenseman or a goalie. Not calling him a bust yet but I’m dsmn close. This is nothing like Vilardi who worked hard to get thru his injuries. QB is just floating thru time with flashes of decent play.