Flames at Coyotes
The Calgary Flames have answered a season-high six-game winning streak by stumbling to back-to-back losses while concluding a three-game homestand. The Flames look to regain their footing on the road Monday when they open a two-game trek against the Pacific Division-rival Arizona Coyotes.
Johnny Gaudreau set up Sean Monahan's goal in Friday's 4-1 loss to Columbus to extend his point streak to seven games (three goals, eight assists) sandwiched around a three-week absence due to a broken finger. The 23-year-old notched a pair of assists in Calgary's 2-1 overtime victory at Arizona on Dec. 8 and has 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 10 career encounters versus the Coyotes. Arizona showed signs of rebounding from its six-game losing skid by winning three of four before falling flat at Minnesota on Saturday to conclude a four-game road trip. Brendan Perlini scored in a 4-1 loss to the Wild for his second goal and third point in five contests for the Coyotes, who begin a five-game homestand on Monday.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Flames (Calgary), FSN Arizona
ABOUT THE FLAMES (16-15-2): The 22-year-old Monahan, who had an assist against Arizona on Dec. 8, has scored five goals and set up six others during his nine-game point streak. Chad Johnson improved to 5-1-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average in his career versus the Coyotes after stopping 47-of-49 shots over a pair of 2-1 overtime wins this season. The 30-year-old career backup has stepped up on the road, posting a 7-2-1 mark with two shutouts, a 1.69 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (11-15-5): Coach Dave Tippett was quick to cast a critical eye toward defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was whistled for three penalties on Saturday and failed to play 20 minutes in a game for just the third time this season. "Oliver had a really tough day," Tippett told reporters. "His game is not where it needs to be right now. He needs to find a way to have a better impact for our group to be successful." Fellow blue-liner Connor Murphy set up a goal on Saturday in his return from a week-long absence due to an upper-body injury, but has just one point - an assist - in 12 career encounters with Calgary.
OVERTIME
1. Calgary has scored 10 power-play goals in its last seven games.
2. Coyotes F Tobias Rieder, who has two assists in his last three contests, scored in the first meeting with the Flames on Nov. 16.
3. Arizona captain RW Shane Doan is one goal shy of 400 for his career, but has been held off the scoresheet in six of his last eight games.