Calgary Flames center Tyler Pitlick, left, and Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson battle as the puck flies by during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, left, and Calgary Flames left wing Matthew Tkachuk scuffle during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames, right, and the Kings’ Drew Doughty scuffle during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Calgary Flames center Dillon Dube, left, and Kings defenseman Drew Doughty crash the boards during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kings right wing Alex Iafallo, right, scores on Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Kings’ Alex Iafallo celebrates after scoring during the first period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Dustin Brown of the Kings hooks Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames for a penalty during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Drew Doughty of the Kings makes a pass away from Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kings goaltender Cal Petersen is scored on as Calgary Flames left wing Milan Lucic, left, and center Mikael Backlund watch during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Kings’ Anze Kopitar, right, shows his frustration along with teammate Adrian Kempe after Calgary’s Andrew Mangiapane scored a goal to tie the score during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Brad Richardson of the Calgary Flames, right, and Alexander Edler of the Kings collide as they skate after the puck during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Milan Lucic of the Calgary Flames, left, and the Kibgs’ Matt Roy chase after the puck during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Former King Trevor Lewis (22) of the Calgary Flames reacts to an ovation from fans during the first period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kings goaltender Cal Petersen eyes the puck as the Calgary Flames’ Elias Lindholm passes it during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kings goaltender Cal Petersen, left deflects a shot as Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm watches during the first period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Milan Lucic (17) of the Calgary Flames celebrates his power-play goal with teammates during the first period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Calgary Flames left wing Milan Lucic, second from right, celebrates his goal with teammates left wing Andrew Mangiapane, left, defenseman Noah Hanifin, second from left, and center Mikael Backlund during the first period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames clears the puck from Dustin Brown of the Kings during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Viktor Arvidsson of the Kings chases after Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Kings’ Alex Iafallo looks up to pass in front of Oliver Kylington of the Calgary Flames during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom deflects a shot during the second period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames is knocked off balance by Alex Edler of the Kings during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the Calgary Flames celebrates his goal with Nikita Zadorov (16) as they skate back to the bench during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Nikita Zadorov of the Calgary Flames picks up a loose puck in front of Adrian Kempe of the Kings during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Kings’ Trevor Moore shoves Nikita Zadorov of the Calgary Flames after a stoppage of play during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom makes a save during the second period of their game against the Kings on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kings center Rasmus Kupari, center, tries to get a shot past Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom as defenseman Noah Hanifin defends during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson, left, and Calgary Flames center Elias Lindholm battle for the puck during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom, left, is scored on by Kings defenseman Alex Edler, right, during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Kings’ Alex Edler, right, celebrates his goal (the 100th of his career and first as a King) with Viktor Arvidsson during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Kings’ Alex Edler, right, celebrates his goal with Alex Iafallo, center, and Matt Roy, during the second period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kings defenseman Alex Edler, right, celebrates his goal with right wing Alex Iafallo during the second period of their game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Calgary Flames right wing Brad Richardson, right, takes the puck as Los Angeles Kings left wing Carl Grundstrom pressures him during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kings goaltender Cal Petersen, right, deflects a shot as Calgary Flames center Blake Coleman watches during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Kings defenseman Sean Durzi, left, passes the puck as Calgary Flames center Dillon Dube falls to the ice during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Trevor Lewis of the Calgary Flames controls the puck in front of Mikey Anderson of the Kings during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Kings’ Adrian Kempe checks Andrew Mangiapane of the Calgary Flames during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kings goalie Cal Petersen makes a save on a shot by the Flames’ Elias Lindholm as the Kings’ Matt Roy looks on during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Brad Richardson of the Calgary Flames shields the puck from Carl Grundstrom of the Kings during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom, left, makes a glove save as Kings right wing Viktor Arvidsson, center, and defenseman Oliver Kylington watch during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Calgary Flames center Dillon Dube, right, moves the puck while under pressure from Kings right wing Alex Iafallo during the third period on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom makes a final save during the third period of their 3-2 victory over the Kings on Thursday night at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom is congratulated by Elias Lindholm (28), Noah Hanifin (55), Rasmus Andersson (4) and Mikael Backlund (11) after their 3-2 victory over the Kings on Thursday night at Staples Center. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — On a night when Darryl Sutter was back behind the bench at Staples Center, albeit for the opposing Calgary Flames, the two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach left the arena with another victory, a 3-2 triumph over the struggling Kings.
Defenseman Alex Edler had a goal and an assist and winger Alex Iafallo had a goal for the Kings. Cal Petersen made 29 saves in his third loss in his last four appearances.
Wingers Milan Lucic, Matthew Tkachuk and Andrew Mangiapane scored for Calgary, with Mangiapane adding an assist and the reviled Tkachuk’s goal standing as the game-winner. Jacob Markstrom turned away 40 shots as the Flames improved to a league-leading 10-2-2 on the road.
“(Sutter) wasn’t worried about his homecoming or anything like that, but it’s obviously nice not only for him but for (Lucic) too. It was big to get them the win,” Tkachuk said. “(The former Kings) were here for a lot of years and won some championships here and probably have a lot of great memories here, so sure, this game feels a lot better and is special to them, but it feels better with the win.”
The Kings have now lost seven of their last eight games, including four in regulation.
“We’re a results-based industry and we’re leaving without two points, not even getting one. That’s the disappointing thing and we’ve been in that situation far too many times over the last little bit,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.
The Kings had more than a minute of six-on-five time to close the game, but they could not score and managed just one shot on goal.
With slightly less than six minutes left in the game, winger Viktor Arvidsson launched a slap shot that Markstrom snared with his glove as he fell backward, preserving Calgary’s lead.
The Kings headed into the second intermission down just one goal thanks to a score off the rush with less than two minutes left in the second period. Arvidsson left a drop pass for his fellow Swede Edler. He skated into a wrist shot from the left faceoff dot that darted between Markstrom’s glove and pad for Edler’s 100th career goal and his first as a King.
Edler last scored on Feb. 25, 2020, making this his first goal in 98 games between all of last season, parts of two other seasons and 17 postseason games in 2020.
“I don’t care too much about the (milestone). But it’s been a long, long time since I scored a goal, so that was nice, but obviously I would have much rather had the win,” Edler said.
Calgary created some separation 4:54 into the middle period. It was Johnny Gaudreau dishing the puck from the middle to Tkachuk on the right wing before the two wingers criss-crossed. Tkachuk zipped a rising wrist shot through Doughty and Anze Kopitar then past Petersen on the far side. Tkachuk exchanged pleasantries, shoves and more with Adrian Kempe later in the period.
There were some first-period fireworks between Doughty and Tkachuk. Doughty took Tkachuk down once. Tkachuk sent Doughty to the ice twice, once with a cross-check and again with an alert reverse hit.
Tkachuk later skated into Petersen, knocking the goalie down. Doughty engaged Tkachuk from behind and light punches were thrown. Tkachuk received a minor penalty, but the Kings failed to convert with the extra man as their power play was truncated by their third penalty of the first period, which they killed successfully after having surrendered two power-play goals.
On a night when three former Kings were skating for the opposition, one of them gave Calgary the lead with a power-play goal. Mangiapane’s skillfully weighted pass through traffic found Lucic, who slipped a low shot between the legs of both defenseman Matt Roy and Petersen.
Calgary had also pulled even with a power-play goal, scored by Mangiapane. Center Mikael Backlund generated a long rebound that Mangiapane found in the slot and swiped past Petersen. It was his 16th goal of the season in his 23rd game, placing Mangiapane two goals shy of the career high he set in 56 games last season.
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The Kings opened the scoring just 4:30 into the game. Iafallo fought through some leaning and pushing by defenseman Erik Gudbranson to redirect Edler’s shot home for Iafallo’s third goal in two games.
“I think (the second line has) played well. They’ve been able to be responsible defensively, but they’ve got some pace in their game right now,” McLellan said.
It was the Kings’ fourth goal scored off a deflection and the fourth on a scoring sequence initiated by a defenseman’s shot in their last two games. The Kings are now 4-4-2 when scoring first this season.
WELCOME BACK
Sutter coached against the Kings for the first time since leading them to Stanley Cup wins in 2012 and 2014. Sutter went 225-147-53 in six seasons with the Kings before he was fired as part of an organization overhaul following the 2016-17 campaign.
Flames forward Trevor Lewis played against the Kings for the first time. Part of those two Cup-winning teams, he had 70 goals and 93 assists in 674 games during his 12 seasons with the Kings.
