Preview: Calgary Flames @ Arizona Coyotes 12/10/19 (33/82): Surging Flames Go For Sixth Straight Win

Calgary Flames @ Arizona Coyotes, 7 PM MT, Gila River Arena, Glendale AZ

TV: SN1 – Radio: Sportsnet 960

Calgary Flames 16-12-4 (36 pts) – Arizona Coyotes 18-10-4 (40 pts)

NHL Standings

The Flames mini two game road trip concludes with a stop in Arizona to take on the surging Coyotes. The Flames are riding high on a five game winning streak and their offence appears to be finding an identity. The Flames have scored four or more goals in three straight games and they’re coming via a non conventional route. The Flames top players aren’t the ones’s lighting the lamp, it’s their secondary scoring leading the way. Calgary has been getting key contributions from Derek Ryan, Milan Lucic, Dillon Dube and Tobias Rieder. While that is great in the “now,” the Flames will need the likes of Matthew Tkachuk, Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Giordano and Mikael Backlund to start shouldering some of the load if they are really going to make a push to the playoffs.

The Coyotes are the surprise of the Pacific this season as they are tied with the Edmonton Oilers for first place in the division. Arizona is on a nice little run as of late, going 5-3-2 over their last 10, securing 12 points during that stretch. Their offence, like the Flames, isn’t lighting the world on fire (22nd overall), but the Arizona goaltending has been stellar. The ‘Yotes are the second best team in the league in GA with 73 and both Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta have Save% north of .925.

These two last met on November 16th with the Flames getting shut out by a score of 3-0. That loss evened the season series as the Flames won the first meeting 4-3 in overtime back on November 5th. A win tonight would be Calgary’s 6th in a row and would get them to within two points of first place in the Pacific. Not bad for a team that seemed lost while going through a six game losing streak a mere two weeks ago.

Starting Goalies (E=Expected,C=Confirmed)

Flames: Talbot (E)- 2-5-0, 3.19 GAA, .895 Save%

Coyotes: Kuemper (E)- 13-6-2, 1.96 GAA, .935 Save%

Team Leaders

Flames: Goals: Lindholm (14) Points: Tkachuk (27) PIM: Lucic (34) Save%: Rittich (.913)

Coyotes: Goals: Garland (12) Points: Schmaltz (22) PIM: Chychrun (24) Save%: Kuemper (.935)

What’s Happening With The Opposition?

Arizona Coyotes Coverage: Five For Howling

Last Time Out

Calgary Flames 5 – Colorado Avalanche 4 (OT)

Arizona Coyotes 4 – Chicago Blackhawks 3 (SO)

Players To Watch

Calgary Flames

Sean Monahan (C): 6 points in last 5 games

Arizona Coyotes

Phil Kessel (F): 4 points in last 5 games

by Mark Parkinson