Game Day Watch, 3/19: Los Angeles Kings @ Calgary Flames

HOW TO WATCH

Game Time: 6:30 PM Pacific
TV: Fox Sports West
Radio: KABC AM 790
Stream: Fox Sports Go (requires cable subscription)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

if you’re a Kings fan: In lieu of just saying “The Kings have to win some games, Bob!” down the stretch, I’ll try to come up with specific aspects to keep an eye on. Today? Let’s go with the top six. Anze Kopitar and his line got a series of defensive zone starts against Buffalo, while Jeff Carter and his buddies got the offensive zone time. Calgary is a tougher assignment on both ends, so we’ll see how Darryl Sutter plays his cards.

if you’re a Flames fan: You enjoy playing breaking Kings hearts, and even if your team loses, they’ll almost certainly make the playoffs. Enjoy it.

if you’re a hockey fan: Now then. If you’re not a fan of St. Louis or Edmonton, you don’t want a boring stretch run, do you? Good, then watch this and root for the Kings.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

for the Kings: Alec Martinez. He’s cooled off after putting together six points in four games earlier this month, but he’s played 20 minutes in the last three games and has avoided his prior... snakebittenness? Is that a word?

for the Flames: Dougie Hamilton. Like Martinez, he is the de facto third defenseman for his team, and like Hamilton, he’s had a very productive season. (Calgary’s #2 defenseman, T.J. Brodie, is having a remarkably tough season in terms of giving up goals, much like LA’s #2 defenseman.)