Calgary Flames @ Arizona Coyotes, 2 PM MT, Gila River Arena, Glendale AZ

TV: SNF - Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 10-8-3 (23 pts) - Arizona Coyotes 11-7-2 (24 pts)

NHL Standings

After four games worth of home cooking the Flames are on the road, starting in Arizona with a visit to the Coyotes. While hockey X’s and O’s were still a topic this week, the subject quickly turned to real life issues for the Flames. On Thursday T.J. Brodie collapsed at practice with what was originally thought to be a seizure. Brodie was transported to a local hospital and given a litany of tests before being released and sent home. Nothing neurologically was found wrong with the Flames defenceman, but the Flames medical staff will continue to run tests on Brodie and he did not travel with the Flames this weekend.

Besides the Brodie scare this week the Flames are pretty much who they’ve been all season long. They still can’t manage to string together anything more than a two game winning streak and they’re more of a win one, lose one team so far in 2019. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are still struggling, combining for 10 goals between the two and only five goals in their last 17 games.

Since losing to Calgary in OT on November 5th Arizona has dropped three of their last five games. Despite that record they still sit in second place in the Pacific Division, but they have to be getting worn down. In their last eight games the ‘Yotes have gone beyond regulation four times, winning three. Add that to their prior 12 games and they’ve played in overtime or a shoot out seven times on the season.

Neither team is an offensive machine as they sit 22nd and 23rd in the NHL in goals per game, but the Flames could have an advantage on the PP. The Coyotes are a middle of the road team when playing with a man down (16th) and the Flames PP has kind of, sort of started to show some signs of “life,” so maybe a few pucks in the net will help boost that group’s confidence.

Calgary also has the advantage of playing well lately in the Coyotes home barn. The Flames have won six of their last ten games at Gila River Arena.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected,C=Confirmed)

Flames: Rittich (E)- 9-4-3, 2.74 GAA, .914 Save%

Coyotes: Kuemper (E)- 8-5-0, 1.99 GAA, .931 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Tkachuk (10) Points: Tkachuk (20) PIM: Lucic (30) Save%: Rittich (.914)

Coyotes: Goals: Garland (9) Points: Schmaltz (16) PIM: Goligoski (12) Save%: Kuemper (.931)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Arizona Coyotes Coverage: Five For Howling

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 1 - Dallas Stars 3

Arizona Coyotes 2 - Minnesota Wild 3

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Mikael Backlund (C): 3 points in last 4 games

Arizona Coyotes

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Vinnie Hinostroza (F): 2 points in last 5 games