Entering play Wednesday, the Calgary Flames hold a one-point lead in the NHL standings on the Los Angeles Kings, the difference between third-place in the Pacific Division and an automatic spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and 10th in the Western Conference, two points and two teams behind the second wild card spot.
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So with the Flames and Kings set to meet Wednesday night in Calgary, the third of four regular season matchups between the clubs, two (or possibly more) crucial points will be up for grabs and an already intense and physical rivalry could be dialed up a few notches extra.
“Whenever play them, they seem to be tight games, physical ... that’s what I’m expecting tonight.” - Matthew Tkachuk on the #LAKings pic.twitter.com/GKO5NGCvX9
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) January 24, 2018
The Flames-Kings rivalry has already seen is twists and turns, beginning last season when Matthew Tkachuk elbowed Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, earning a two-game suspension. After the incident, Doughty called Tkachuk " ... a dirty player."
Any thought that the bad blood wouldn't spill into this season was dashed when the team's and player's feud was renewed when Tkachuk and Doughty got into a yelling match in the penalty boxes during a Flames overtime victory against the Kings in October.
Frolik getting close
While he won't play Wednesday, Flames forward Michael Frolik, in a non-contact jersey, joined his teammates for an optional morning skate prior to the game. Frolik, who sustained a fractured jaw after being hit in the face by a Brent Burns shot in a Dec. 28 game, will miss his 11th straight game on Wednesday.