Langkow much too tricky for Kings

CALGARY, Canada -- Daymond Langkow scored three goals to help the Calgary Flames move into first place in their division with a 6-1 win over the Kings on Friday night.

Langkow scored once in each period, finishing the third hat trick of his career by deflecting Adrian Aucoin’s slap shot 2:03 into the third period.

Craig Conroy, Stephane Yelle and Matthew Lombardi also scored for Calgary, which has picked up points in 11 of its last 12 home games.

Langkow’s last three-goal game was nearly five years ago on Jan. 24, 2003, when he played for the Phoenix Coyotes against Edmonton.

Calgary entered the night third in the Northwest Division, but Minnesota lost to the Ducks, and Vancouver didn’t play.

Derek Armstrong scored for the Kings, who had a three-game winning streak end.

Langkow put Calgary ahead by two at 10:48 of the first period when he was set up neatly in the slot by Kristian Huselius after Kings defenseman Rob Blake gave the puck away deep in his own end.

Midway through the second, he put Calgary ahead, 3-0, on another nice pass. This time it was Jarome Iginla spotting him open in the slot while he skated behind the net. Langkow one-timed a shot into the top corner past goalie Jason LaBarbera.

The Kings entered with the league’s fourth best power-play, but they went 0 for 9 and gave up a short-handed goal to Yelle.

--

TONIGHT

at Vancouver, 7, FSN West

Site -- General Motors Place.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Kings 18-28-2, Canucks 25-17-5.

Record vs. Canucks -- 2-0.

Update -- After the Kings defeated Vancouver in their most recent meeting on Dec. 10, they followed with an eight-game losing streak. Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, who sat out the last game against the Kings because of a bruised rib, turned down the opportunity to start for the Western Conference in the All-Star game scheduled for Jan. 27 in Atlanta because he wants to spend time with his pregnant wife, Gina, at their off-season home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

-- Dan Arritt