CAN'T CATCH CALGARY KINGS' LOSS SIXTH IN SEVEN GAMES CALGARY 3, KINGS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

There was a time - like last year - when the Kings might have mistaken the Calgary Flames for the Atlanta Thrashers, the only team they've beaten in more than two weeks.

But the Flames, who have missed the playoffs the past five years, are one the NHL's hottest teams and took advantage of the slumping Kings on Thursday night for a 3-2 victory in front of 14,459 at Staples Center.

After beating lowly Atlanta last Saturday, the Kings should have been the fresher team, especially after Calgary tied the Mighty Ducks 3-3 on Wednesday night.

But the Kings, who now have dropped six of seven, never overcame second-period goals by Jarome Iginla and Denis Gauthier scored just 12 seconds apart to break a 1-1 tie.

For Iginla, it was his second goal of the game and his fourth during the past two nights in Southern California. Iginla now has 13 goals, one behind league-leader Mark Parrish of the New York Islanders.

But Iginla had help. After scoring late in the second period on a power- play goal by Randy Robitaille, the Kings couldn't come all the way back against Calgary goaltender Roman Turek.

Robitaille had the best chance to tie the game with 8:27 left and the Kings again on the power play. Adam Deadmarsh set up in front and worked a screen for Mathieu Schneider, who fired from the slot.

The rebound popped out to Robitaille, who had an open look at the net. But Turek slid across to make the stop.

Turek, who saved 26 of 28 shots, seemed to take the life out of the Kings on the play. Two minutes later, Schneider was called for charging on Scott Nichol.

Earlier in the period, Deadmarsh had a great scoring chance when he pounded away in front of the the net with 12:23 left in regulation. The Kings had regrouped after back-to-back penalties to Schneider and Jason Allison early in the period.

But Turek, who has all 11 victories for the Northwest Division-leading Flames after coming over from St. Louis last summer, remained solid when the Kings applied pressure late.

The game had a promising start when Craig Johnson scored his second of the year at the 15:17 mark of the first period.

Eric Belanger won the draw and Lubomir Visnovsky took the puck at the point and got it to Johnson at the top of the left faceoff circle. Johnson took a stride and let go a slap shot that beat Turek.

It looked easy, but it would be more than 25 minutes before the Kings scored another.

Calgary quickly shifted the momentum, however, with a goal by Iginla in the final two minutes of the first period.

This one wasn't Kings goalie Felix Potvin's fault. Visnovsky tried to clear the puck up the left boards, but it took a funny bounce and landed at Iginla's skates. He turned and fired for his 12th goal and 26th point of the season.

Then came those two Calgary goals 12 seconds apart that looked as though they might put the game away.

The first was by Iginla at the 9:34 mark after he worked through a check by defenseman Jere Karalahti and fired from a difficult angle to beat Potvin between the pads.

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The Kings' Adam Deadmarsh tries to slow down Calgary's Dallas Eakins on Thursday.

Ric Francis/Associated Press