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Flames-Kings Preview

Dec 6, 2009 - 6:53 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Calgary (18-7-3) at Los Angeles (17-10-3), 10:30 p.m. EDT

A six-game road trip may be daunting for most teams, but Miikka Kiprusoff has turned one into an impressive stretch for the Calgary Flames.

After backstopping the Flames to a win over the top team in the NHL, Kiprusoff is likely to be in net again as the Northwest Division leaders conclude the trip against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night.

Calgary (18-7-3) is the best road team in the league, going 11-2-3 and losing once in regulation over the last 12 games, a stretch that includes a 5-2 win over Los Angeles on Nov. 21.

That success has been spurred by superb play from Kiprusoff, who is 9-2-3 with a 1.76 goals-against average and three shutouts in 14 away games.

The 2006 Vezina Trophy winner, likely to be in net again Monday, has keyed the Flames' 4-1-0 mark during this six-game trip. He has gone 3-1-0 with a 0.75 GAA and two shutouts during four starts over that stretch.

Kiprusoff came up big again Saturday, making 35 saves to help Calgary beat league-leading San Jose 2-1 and move atop the division, one point ahead of Colorado. The Flames held the Sharks' top line of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau without a point.

"They've been the highest-scoring line so far and we knew it would be a challenge," said center Olli Jokinen, who scored his sixth goal of the season. "It was just a good two points for us."

The Flames won 11 of their last 12 meetings with the Kings (17-10-3) and five in a row. Calgary's victory at Staples Center on Nov. 21 was its third straight on Los Angeles' home ice.

Kiprusoff went 10-1-0 with a 2.36 GAA in his last 11 games against Los Angeles. He was superb in winning the last five with a 1.40 GAA and made 23 saves in last month's matchup.

The Kings are looking to rebound from a 5-4 shootout loss to St. Louis on Saturday that snapped a three-game winning streak. Alexander Frolov allowed them to salvage a point by tying the game with 35 seconds to play, but Jon Quick gave up goals on both of the Blues' attempts in the tiebreaker.

Kings star Anze Kopitar has not scored in a career-high 12 games, although the center had seven assists in that stretch. Kopitar's goal drought has come after he led the NHL with 14 goals and 28 points over the first 18 games of the season.

He has recorded six goals and three assists in seven home meetings with the Flames.

While the Kings aren't getting much production from their top scorer, Wayne Simmonds continues to develop into an offensive threat.

The right wing has four goals and four assists during a career-high six-game point streak after getting two assists Saturday. He has nine goals and 10 assists through 30 games after finishing with nine and 14 as a rookie last season.

"He's been working really hard, and he's been really good in the corners and making plays," right wing Dustin Brown said. "He's also gotten a lot bigger and stronger over the offseason. Another thing different about him is the confidence level. When you have that confidence, it gives you that consistency. And that makes a huge difference at this level."