(My Sportsbook) - After putting together an incredibly successful road trip, the Los Angeles Kings return to the Staples Center tonight to take on the Calgary Flames in a matchup of teams currently headed in opposite directions.

Los Angeles began its recent five-game trek with a one-goal loss at Montreal on January 31, then proceeded to rip off four consecutive victories to match its longest winning streak of the season. Two of those wins came against a pair of division leaders in Washington and New Jersey.

The Kings kept up their winning ways with Tuesday's 4-3 shootout triumph over the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. Jack Johnson recorded the only goal during the deciding phase and goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped all three skaters he faced in the shootout.

Los Angeles' Alexander Frolov tied the contest at 3-3 with a power-play goal early in the third period, while Wayne Simmonds and Anze Kopitar also lit the lamp for the red-hot Kings. Quick recorded 22 saves in regulation and overtime to help his team win for the seventh time in its last eight games.

The Kings have not won five straight games since February 11-March 7, 2006.

Despite its surge, Los Angeles still remains tied with Phoenix for last place in the Pacific Division, although the Kings have closed within three points of a possible playoff spot.

Calgary is in much better position in regards to the postseason, having built a eight-point lead over second-place Minnesota in the Northwest Division. The Flames haven't played like a playoff team lately, however, having dropped five of six games to begin the month of February.

The Flames did manage to earn a point in their most recent outing, a 3-2 overtime defeat at Anaheim last night. That loss came on the heels of an encouraging 6-2 home victory over slumping Montreal on Monday.

Todd Bertuzzi and Curtis Glencross scored the goals for Calgary, which couldn't hold on to a 2-1 lead after two periods and was outshot by a 40-23 margin on the night. Miikka Kiprusoff registered 37 saves in a losing cause.

Wednesday's setback came in the opener of a three-game road trip for the Flames against Pacific Division clubs. Calgary, which is 11-11-2 as the visitor for the season, will travel to Phoenix Saturday in the finale of the swing.

Calgary has lost four straight on the road but has had good success when visiting the Staples Center recently. The Flames have won three of their last four as the road team in this series, including a 3-2 decision in Los Angeles on November 1, and are 8-1-0 in their last nine overall matchups with the Kings.