Coyotes at Flames
The Arizona Coyotes are playing like a team that is steamrolling toward the postseason - not one that was long ago eliminated from playoff contention - as they visit the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Arizona, which started 0-10-1 and was 12-32-9, is 16-8-2 since Feb. 7 after dominating playoff-hopeful St. Louis 6-0 on Saturday - the latest sign that the Coyotes intend to finish the campaign strong and carry plenty of momentum into 2018-19.
"They've bought in. I've got to give a lot of guys credit for that," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet told reporters. "It's easy when you're out of the playoffs to give up, and we haven't given up." Calgary snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Edmonton on Saturday as it wraps up a disappointing campaign without the likes of front-line players such as Sean Monahan, Matthew Tkachuk and defenseman T.J. Brodie, who are shut down for the season. "It's been hard on our guys emotionally,'' Flames coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters. "I felt today they looked a little bit like themselves. That's what I felt this morning and that's what showed here in the game." Calgary won the first two of four meetings this season, 3-0 and 5-2, behind a combined three goals from Mark Jankowski before Arizona recorded a 5-2 victory March 19 when Max Domi and Oliver Ekman-Larsson each scored twice.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS Arizona Plus, Sportsnet West (Calgary)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (28-40-11): Antti Raanta (20-16-6, 2.27 goals-against average, .929 save percentage) was named the NHL's second star of the week and is 8-1-0, 1.34, .956 in his past nine games, with Saturday's shutout his second during that span. Clayton Keller (team highs of 23 goals, 63 points) is finishing his rookie season strong with six goals and 19 points in March, recording at least a point in 14 of 17 games this month. Derek Stepan (club-most 42 assists, 55 points) has a goal and nine assists in his last eight games.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (36-33-10): Johnny Gaudreau (team highs of 82 points and 59 assists) returned Saturday after missing two games to be with his ailing father, and hasn't recorded a point in three straight contests for only the third time this season. Spencer Foo had a shot on goal in 12 minutes, 45 seconds of ice time in his NHL debut Saturday. Former Coyote Mike Smith snapped a five-game losing streak in which he posted a 4.40 goals-against average and .865 save percentage by making 34 saves versus Edmonton while Dougie Hamilton scored his 17th goal - most among NHL defensemen.
OVERTIME
1. Arizona is 5-1-1 in its last seven games versus the Pacific Division after winning only four of its first 19 such contests (4-10-5).
2. Calgary is 1-for-47 on the power play in its last 16 games, including 0-for-29 in the last 11 contests.
3. Coyotes C Christian Dvorak (15 goals, 37 assists) missed his first game of the season Saturday because of a lower-body injury.