Coyotes at Flames
The Phoenix Coyotes attempt to post their second win over the Calgary Flames in seven days when the teams face off at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday. Phoenix posted a 4-0 home triumph over Calgary on Monday as Raffi Torres and Antoine Vermette recorded a goal and an assist apiece while Mike Smith made 30 saves en route to his third shutout of the season. Smith stopped 41 shots in Edmonton on Saturday, but the Coyotes squandered a two-goal lead and dropped a 3-2 shootout decision.
Calgary is coming off a 3-1 home victory over the Minnesota Wild on Saturday. Matt Stajan snapped a tie at 7:19 of the third period and scored into an empty net with nine seconds remaining to cap his ninth career two-goal performance. Stajan scored more goals in a span of less than 13 minutes than the Flames totaled over their previous two games (one in a pair of losses).
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Plus Arizona (Phoenix), Rogers Sportsnet West (Calgary)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (8-6-3): Center Matthew Lombardi was back in the lineup Saturday after missing 12 games with a shoulder injury and gave Phoenix a 2-0 lead midway through the second period with a power-play goal. Despite Lombardi's efforts, he could not make up for the absences of two of the team's top scorers. Right wing Radim Vrbata, who tops the club with 12 points, sat out his second straight game with a lower-body injury while center Martin Hanzal, who has scored a team-high seven goals and is tied for third with 10 points, was out with an upper-body injury. Torres played in his 600th NHL game Saturday.
ABOUT THE FLAMES (6-7-3): Stajan had not scored twice in a game since accomplishing the feat on Dec. 12, 2009 against the Washington Capitals as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Left wing Sven Baertschi returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with a hip flexor. The 20-year-old Swiss, who registered two shots and blocked one in 13:20 of ice time, has yet to record a point in five contests this season. Right wing Akim Aliu made his season debut after being recalled from Abbotsford of the American Hockey League on Thursday but played only 4 minutes, 24 seconds on six shifts.
OVERTIME
1. The Coyotes have recorded at least one point in five of their last six games (4-1-1).
2. Flames captain Jarome Iginla's assist Saturday was his 1,084th career point. He is four points away from tying Theo Fleury for 59th place on the all-time list.
3. Phoenix has won seven of the last nine meetings between the clubs.
PREDICTION: Coyotes 4, Flames 1