(Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames will try to bounce back from an embarrassing loss when they visit the Los Angeles Kings today for an afternoon clash at Staples Center.
The Flames dropped their second straight game on Thursday as they were slammed, 7-1, by visiting Chicago. Calgary has given up a total of 13 goals in two games against the Blackhawks this year and has been outscored 13-1 since taking a 5-0 lead early in the first meeting in Chicago on October 12. The Blackhawks won that game 6-5 in overtime.
Kris Versteeg scored two goals, and Chicago netted six unanswered goals -- five in the second period -- to spur the Blackhawks to the easy win at the Saddledome.
Olli Jokinen scored the lone goal for the Flames, who have lost three of four since beginning November on a four-game winning streak. Miikka Kiprusoff lasted just two periods, allowing six goals on 24 shots, and Curtis McElhinney stopped only 1-of-2 shots in the third period.
"The game is 90 percent mental, and this has a lot of work to do on that part of it," said Flames head coach Brent Sutter. "A sense of urgency needs to be there, and we lack that. There needs to be a lot more emotion throughout on a consistent basis. We need to want to succeed."
Calgary is 6-1-2 as the guest this year, and starting today the Flames are playing two straight and eight of their next nine tests on the road. The club will visit Anaheim on Monday.
The Kings, meanwhile, will try to get back on track after getting dealt a home loss Wednesday by Philadelphia. The Flyers snapped LA's two-game winning streak and handed the Kings their fourth setback in seven contests. Brian Boucher stopped 37 shots to post his first victory of the season as Philadelphia withstood a late flurry to top LA, 3-2, at Staples Center.
Jarret Stoll and Drew Doughty tallied for the Kings, while Jonathan Quick allowed three goals on 20 shots in defeat.
LA played without defenseman Rob Scuderi and winger Ryan Smyth on Wednesday. Smyth is suffering from an upper-body injury and will miss the next four weeks of action, while Scuderi is questionable for today's game with a lower-body issue.
The Kings are 5-3-1 as the host this year and have dropped two straight in the City of Angels. LA is wrapping a brief two-game homestand today and will play its next two tilts on the road in Edmonton and Vancouver.
This afternoon's clash marks the first of four meetings between Calgary and the Kings this season. The Flames won all four matchups last year and have taken 10 of the last 11 encounters between the clubs. Calgary has also come out on top in two straight and four of its last five stops in LA.