5 THINGS - FLAMES VS. COYOTES
The Flames look to get back in the win column tonight against the Coyotes
Video: Brendan Parker sets up tonight's game
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GAME DAY VIDEO
Game Day with Brendan Parker
Pregame Interviews
GAME DAY FEATURES
Under The Saddle - Beesley
COMING SOON: Projected Lineup
Say What - 'Got To Bear Down'
STAT PACK
Media Game Notes
Scoring Leaders
Head-to-Head Stats
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Leading Scorers:
Flames:
Points - Johnny Gaudreau (82)
Goals - Elias Lindholm (31)
Coyotes:
Points - Clayton Keller (62)
Goals - Keller (27)
Special Teams:
Flames:
PP - 23.9% (9th) / PK - 85.4% (4th)
Coyotes:
PP - 13.8% (30th) / PK - 73.9% (31st)
Advanced Stats:
Flames:
Shot Attempts: 57.00% (1st)
High-Danger Chances: 56.19% (1st)
Coyotes:
Shot Attempts: 43.37% (32nd)
High-Danger Chances: 42.77% (32nd)
Plain and simple, they know they have to be better.
The Flames have had a couple days to digest a 4-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks Tuesday night, a game that got away from them in the third period as they saw a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes disappear in 28 seconds in the third period.
Disappointing? Sure.
But they aren't dwelling on it too much.
After all, you can't win 'em all.
"We've had stretches where we've played really well," assistant coach Ryan Huska said. "It's allowed us to understand what we have to do nighty to win games and be a successful team. Our room really knows how we have to play which is awesome. They are accountable to themselves when they don't (play well).
"When they haven't been at their best they know exactly what was wrong because we've reinforced it from day at one training camp and continue to each and every day to a point where they have an idea without having to hear it from us.
"Usually when we have a not very good game, the next one when we come back from is a very good game and that's what we're looking for."
And they'll have that opportunity tonight's with a clash against the Coyotes in the second of three meetings. The first was back on Feb. 2 when the Flames skated away with a 4-2 victory just before the all-star break.
Despite the Coyotes struggles, it's an opponent that can't be taken lightly.
With just 19 games left in the regular season, the games at the end of the season matter just as much as the ones at the start.
"You want to be playing your best hockey this time of year," Huska said. "You can say they're four point games if you want to call it that. You have to be playing your best hockey right now leading into the playoffs. It's not the next ten games being up and down we have to be above the line every game and I think it's better for us playing teams that we have to beat.
"These are teams that we don't want to allow to leapfrog us. We have to make sure that teams that are below us stay below us. It's a good thing for us that every game there's importance for sure."
Video: "We can't take any team lightly"
Arizona head into the contest on a three-game losing streak with their latest defeat Tuesday night, dropping a 4-2 decision to Seattle.
After scoring 27 goals during a five game road trip which saw them win four of the tilts, the Coyotes have scored just five during the three game slide.
"It's tough to put a finger on what's changed since the road trip," head coach André Tourigny said after Tuesday's loss. "You can feel it, you can see it. How to get out of it - is the million dollar question. That's what we need to find a solution for.
"We have a lot of frustration for whatever reason. We just have to regroup and push all together. We see a lot of frustration."
Tied with Montreal for the fewest points in the league with 44, it's been a long season for Arizona but have played hard as of late with upsets over some of the league's best.
With a wealth of draft picks in the upcoming draft for the rebuilding club, they made an early splash in acquiring the rights to centreman Jack McBain from the Minnesota Wild for a second round pick in this year's draft and then signed him to a two-year entry level deal.
The 22-year-old led Boston College with 33 points (19G, 14A) in 24 games this season, was selected to the NCAA (Hockey East) Second All-Star Team and named the Hockey East Player of the Month in October.
"There's a goal in place here down the road with what they want to accomplish," McBain said. "I feel it's a great opportunity and a great fit to be a part of that."
OUR TKACHUK: Matthew Tkachuk sits at 76 points this season, one point off his career high of 77 points which he set in 2018-19. Tkachuk also sits just one goal away from notching his second career 30-goal season and has a career-high 47 assists through 63 games.
BACK-TO-BACK: The Flames enter their 13th back-to-back scenario this season with a 9-2-1 record in the first game of the set and a 7-4-1 record in the second game. This is also the fourth time this season the Flames will play both of the back-to-back's at the 'Dome. Calgary will play three more back-to-back scenarios this season following this set.
DID YOU KNOW?The Flames are on the brink of featuring four 30-goal scorers, with Johnny Gaudreau (29) and Matthew Tkachuk (29) close to joining Elias Lindholm (31) and Andrew Mangiapane (30). This would be the first time since 1993-94 the Flames would have four 30-goal scorers in one season (1993-94: Gary Roberts - 41, Theo Fleury - 40, Robert Reichel - 40, and Joe Nieuwendyk - 36.
Flames - Johnny Gaudreau
The points keep coming for Johnny!
Headed into the clash, he sits one goal away from scoring his 200th career NHL goal. His next marker will also see him hit the 30-goal mark this season, the third time in his career he'd reach the mark.
In his last 21 home games, Johnny has posted 19 points and in his career vs. Arizona, has collected 22 points in 26 games.
Video: "We have a lot of games here down the stretch"
Coyotes - Clayton Keller
The top point producer for the Coyotes has 16 points in his last 10 games with four multi-point performances in that span.
The 23-year-old sits just three points away from matching his career high of 65 set during his rookie season during the 2017-18 campaign and is three goals away from hitting the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career.
Ryan Carpenter on his mindset with his new club:
"I know my skillset and my role in this league. I know what I have to do to stay in it and contribute to a team. The last couple of days in finding out I was super excited, my wife and kids came out here with me so a little chaotic but the Flames do a great job of taking care of you. I'm just trying to get comfortable. Some different systems, trying to watch video and with that you are trying not to think too much and let your instincts take over. You know you are going to make mistakes when you come in a new team but you want to be aggressive rather than over thinking and just sitting back."
