Game 26: Kings 2, Flames 1

Coming off of the emotional win over Detroit, the Kings took to Staples Center to do battle with the Calgary Flames.

It was shaping up to be a letdown, after Matt Stajan scored in the first period to put the Flames on top. But the goal was reviewed, and I instantly thought back to the Ottawa game, when video replay failed the KIngs.

The rule is the call stands on the ice unless there is undeniable proof to overturn it. According to the War Room in Smyth's case, there wasn't.

However, there was some payback for their muffed call. The War Room came back with an denial, stating Stajan made a kicking motion to put to puck past Jonathan Quick.

The decision was surprising, and gave the Kings new life. Thankfully, they were able to capitalize on their good fortune. Wayne Simmonds shot on net at Miikka Kiprusoff, only to find Kyle Clifford's stick, which deflected it past Kipper for his first goal of his young NHL career.

Joining the Kings after a 12-game haitus was forward Alexei Ponikarovsky, who joined Michal Handzus and Wayne Simmonds. Dubbed by some as the Mass Transit Line, the Poni Express racked up 12+ minutes alongside Wayne the Train and the Slovakian Steam Engine. It seems he is back to full strength. And even better news, Willie Mitchell isn't that far behind.

The Kings' defense then clamped down on the Flames, holding them to only four shots in the second period. And after their dominating performance through two periods, the game seemed all but over when Anze Kopitar scored to make it 2-0. That's when the Kings went into a defensive shell. There were murmurings of the unspeakable "s-word."

That's when the Flames, who have been a notorious thorn in the side of the Kings for ages, fought back. Former King Olli Jokinen scored a power play goal to snap L.A.'s penalty killing streak at 45. Way to go, Olli. It also ignited the Flames for the last four minutes of the game which wound up being a flurry of Flames. Fortunately, Quick was solid in net, and made huge save after huge save.

That's not to say Kiprusoff wasn't solid in net as well. If it wasn't for some dazzling netminding by Kipper, the game would have never been in question.

Time ran out on the Flames' chances as the Kings now have a modest three-game win streak in the December to Dismember. The best part about Jokinen's goal was it made Kopitar's third period goal the game-winner, giving him three in a row.

next up for the Kings are the Minnesota Wild , a team stands in the way of another perfect home stand for the Kings. (L.A. had a 5-game home stand earlier that they finished 5-0.) They just ended a five-game losing streak in Phoenix on Thursday. Hopefully, the Kings will be able to close out this homestand with a W before heading out for their second 5-game road trip of the young season.

AP: Clifford scores, Kings hold off Flames 2-1

“They’ve got some of the real tough guys in the league,” Los Angeles coach Terry Murray said of the Flames. “Whenever you’re playing against top goaltenders, you’ve got to get to the net. If you get pucks there, good things will happen.”

LA Times: Kings show the passion needed to earn 2-1 victory over Flames

Sometimes players' eyes glaze over when a coach speaks. The Kings listened, battling in every area of the ice to scratch out a 2-1 victory and stretch their winning streak to three games.

LAKings.com: Kings beat Flames

The only negatives for the Kings were the end of their penalty-kill streak -- they had been 45-for-45 at home until Olli Jokinen's late goal made it 2-1 -- and the possible loss of forward Brad Richardson, who left with an upper-body injury in the first period.

NHL.com: Kings hold off Flames 2-1

Los Angeles fell just short of becoming the first team to go without allowing a power-play goal in 13 consecutive home games since Colorado did it in 2001-02.

Calgary Sun: Flames one and done

“It comes down to individual play,” coach Brian Sutter said. “If our individual play is not at the level it needs to be, our team play’s not going to be at the level it needs. We’ve been too erratic that way, and have to challenge ourselves to get over the hump and take that jump.

They said it

"We knew it was going to be a good challenge, (to see) how we were going to respond after the four or five days off, whatever we had. Maybe there was a little bit of rust in the first few minutes, but I thought that as soon as everybody got their first shift in, I thought we were pretty sharp throughout the whole 60 minutes.” - Anze Kopitar on winning after the long layoff.

"It was probably the ugliest first goal in history. But they don't ask how, just how many. This is one."- Kyle Clifford, on his first goal.

“I’m going to send it back home to my parents. It’s a cheap Christmas present. [laughs]” - Clifford, on what he's going to do with the puck.

“In my three years here, I think that was the best 60 minutes we’ve played against that team. Every time, I don’t know what it is, but we come out slow against them, and if we have the lead, we lose it, or if we’re losing, we never get it back. So it was definitely good to play tonight." - Drew Doughty, on beating Calgary.

“Whenever you’re playing against Calgary, and one of the top goaltenders, Kiprusoff, you have to get to the net. You’ve got to get to the blue paint, and good things will happen if you get pucks there. That’s exactly what the scenario was on that play." - Terry Murray , on Clifford’s goal.