Even the most casual hockey fan could tell you that good teams are built on a foundation of good special teams.

The Los Angeles Kings gave the Flames a painful reminder of such, in scoring four powerplay goals on their way to a 4-2 victory over Calgary on Thursday night at the Staple Center.

Of course it helps when you get a rational performance from the two assigned NHL officials, but that's beside the point.

Team's that succeed battle through tough calls or bad officiating and find a way to win.

Going into tonight's action the 14 current non playoff teams can boast the league's 28th, 29th and 30th best powerplays, as well as the circuits' 25th, 27th, 28th and 30th best penalty killing crews.

Five on five hockey is important, you need to break even in even situations, but that maters little if your getting murdered with skaters off the ice.

This night was predominantly played with less than 12 players on the ice. 

The Kings themselves had 12 powerplay opportunities, and managed to score all four of their goals mad advantage situations.

First Rick Heinze scored a first period powerplay goal, by turning crease crossing pass into a bank shot off of Denis Gauthier to make it 1-0.

The Flames tied it up later in the period when Jarome Iginla pounced on a loose puck created by some fierce penalty kill fore checking to notch his second short handed goal of the season.

The second period featured three Kings powerplay goal sin succession to salt away the Flames third straight loss on this now completed four game road trip.

First Ziggy Palffy jumped on a big Roman Turek rebound to make it 2-1.

Two minutes later Derek Armstrong scored his 8th of the season by one timing a well threaded cross ice pass.

Less than five minutes later it was 4-1 L.A. when Joe Corvo beat Turek for his fifth of the season.

Jarome Iginla rounded out the scoring by netting his 2nd of the night on a third period powerplay to make the final 4-2 Los Angeles.

For Iginla, it was his 7th goal on the four game trip, giving him 22 on the season.

The win keeps the Kings playoff hopes alive as they three points of the 9th place Blackhawks, and seven points within the reach of their cross town rivals, the Ducks for the 8th and final playoff spot.

The loss moves the Flames 10 games under .500 for the first time this season, and puts them last in the West, and 27th overall. 

Next up for the Flames is a home date with the Vancouver Canucks at the Saddledome on Saturday night.

The contest is the third of CBC Hockey Day in Canada triple header featuring all six Canadian teams.

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