Is the Calgary Flames-LA Kings game postponed? League makes scheduling decision due to Los Angeles wildfires

Wednesday’s matchup between the LA Kings and the Calgary Flames has been suspended, the NHL confirmed.

The contest slated to be played at the Crypto.com Arena has been postponed due to the raging wildfires around the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Crypto.com arena is located in downtown LA and remains largely unaffected. However, the league, along with local officials, are not taking any chances.

According to the NY Post, the wildfires started on Tuesday and have spread to more than 4.5 miles. Local authorities are working hard to contain roughly four different sites.

The NHL has not announced a makeup date for the game at this time. It remains to be seen if the game could be made up as the season heads into the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

The Kings will be on the road in Winnipeg to take on the Jets on Friday, while the Flames host the Kings on Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

Wednesday’s game was scheduled as the second meeting between LA and Calgary this season. The Flames won the teams’ first meeting 3-1 on Nov. 11 in Calgary. Saturday’s tilt would have been the third of three matchups in the season series. Both teams are jockeying for position in the Pacific Division, with the Kings six points ahead of the Flames.

The Calgary Flames-LA Kings game is not the first suspension this season

The Calgary Flames and LA Kings matchup scheduled for Wednesday is not the first game suspended by the NHL this season. Earlier this year, the Carolina Hurricanes-Tampa Bay Lightning game was postponed due to Hurricane Milton.

The game initially slated for Oct. 12 was axed due to Milton's impact. Fortunately, no major damage was caused by the hurricane’s path. The Canes and Lightning are scheduled to make up that game on March 11.

Meanwhile, the Kings-Flames matchup could be played later this season, depending on both teams’ schedules. The 4 Nations break could allow the NHL to fit the postponed game in. However, logistical issues such as travel and arena availability play a key factor in making games at later dates.

The NFL is also monitoring the situation as ESPN reports that the upcoming game between the Minnesota Vikings and LA Rams could also be impacted. The game is slated on Monday and is part of the NFL’s wild-card playoff games. While the fires do not pose a direct threat to the Rams’ stadium, at least not at this time, air quality is a major concern.

As such, it could be a few more days before pro sports can resume in the Los Angeles area.