Kings Lose to Flames, 6-3, on a Fight Night at Forum

The Kings ended their exhibition season Saturday night with a 6-3 loss to the Calgary Flames in a game highlighted by a third-period melee.

There were just 7,208 fans at the Forum, but it got a bit crowded in the penalty boxes in the final period.

First, both benches emptied with 14:23 left in the period after Flame defenseman Paul Baxter hit King left wing J.P. Kelly. The officials tried to restrain Kelly, but he still went after Baxter. King left wing Craig Duncanson and Calgary center Doug Riesbrough each received 10-minute misconduct penalties as a result of the melee. Kelly and Calgary defenseman Neil Sheehy got two minutes apiece for roughing. Baxter was not penalized.

Then, with 12:04 left, a fight broke out in front of the Flames’ net between King right wing Dave Taylor and Baxter. Taylor got two minutes for cross-checking and five for fighting. Baxter got two minutes for high sticking and five for fighting.

Next, King center Doug Smith and Calgary defenseman Robin Bartel fought it out with 7:29 left, and there was time for one more fracas with 1:48 left when King center Bernie Nicholls and Riesbrough mixed it up.

The Kings, who ended the exhibition season with a 3-6 record, open their 19th National Hockey League season on Thursday night against the Vancouver Canucks at the Forum.

Left wing Brian MacLellan scored power play goals in the first and third periods to lead the Kings. Rookie center Brian Wilks had the other goal.

Center Perry Berezan, left wing Steve Bozek, right wing Yves Corteau, left wing Eddie Beers and left wing Jim Peplinski scored for the Flames, who also got an empty net goal from Colin Patterson with 54 seconds left.