(Sports Network) - It has been over five years since the Flames last won six straight games. It's been nearly as long since the Los Angeles Kings have won in Calgary. The Flames look to extend their win streak to seven games this evening when they welcome the traveling Kings to the Saddledome. This current five-game swing is the Flames' longest of the season, with the latest victory coming on Thursday versus the Thrashers. Mikael Backlund had the game-winning goal and Mark Giordano scored and added an assist in the 4-2 victory, Calgary's first in seven games at Atlanta since the Thrashers came into the NHL.
Brendan Morrison and Curtis Glencross added goals and Miikka Kiprusoff made 22 saves for the Flames, who haven't won seven straight since Nov. 1-16, 2005. Calgary's current run has moved it into a tie with Los Angeles and Chicago for ninth place in the Western Conference, one point back of a playoff spot. "We're playing well within our system," Calgary forward Alex Tanguay said. "We're being very aggressive on the puck, we play with a little bit more desperation than we did earlier in the season. Right now, it's all about points for us."
Niklas Hagman missed the game with an undisclosed injury and is questionable for tonight, when Calgary opens a four-game homestand looking for a fourth straight victory at the Saddledome. The Flames will also be in search of an 11th straight home win over the Kings, who haven't won in Calgary since Dec. 21, 2005. Los Angeles has just one victory in its last 17 trips to The Stampede City.
"It's been a very hard building for us to come in and play in," Kings coach Terry Murray told his club's website on Thursday. "They've got a team that digs in and are gritty. They play a way, in here, that we've had problems with." Los Angeles did halt a three-game series losing streak and best Calgary for the second time in the last 10 meetings with a 2-1 home win on Dec. 9.
The Kings will hope to shake off their bad luck in Calgary as they play the third contest of a 10-game road trip. They are 1-0-1 so far on the swing, dropping a shootout in Minnesota on Tuesday before posting a 3-1 victory in Edmonton the following night. Ryan Smyth was originally credited with a pair of power-play goals, but they were later given to defenseman Drew Doughty on Thursday after the league reviewed the goals. It upped the former Norris Trophy finalist's goal total to just six in 46 games this season.
Fellow blueliner Jack Johnson registered a goal and two assists for the Kings, who are 4-0-1 in their last five overall. Jonathan Quick made 32 saves in the win and is 2-3-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average versus the Flames. Kiprusoff is 17-7-1 with a 2.12 GAA lifetime when facing the Kings.
For more information on tonight's game, be sure to read Jewels From The Crown.