NHL Preview from The Sports Network
Saturday, January 17th (All times eastern)
Phoenix Coyotes (22-18-5) at Calgary Flames (27-12-4), 10 p.m.
(Sports Network) - The Calgary Flames aim for an eighth straight win at home tonight, as they welcome the Phoenix Coyotes to Pengrowth Saddledome.
Calgary is sporting a 16-4-3 mark at home and in addition to winning seven in a row as the host, the Flames are 7-0-2 in their last nine at Pengrowth Saddledome. Calgary hasn't lost at home in regulation since December 2 versus the Dallas Stars.
The Flames most recent win came on the road, as they halted San Jose's 11- month home point streak with a 3-2 win at HP Pavilion. Dion Phaneuf scored with 3:57 remaining in the contest to lift the Flames to their fourth straight win overall.
Craig Conroy and Daymond Langkow also scored for the Northwest Division- leading Flames, who have also won nine of their last 10 and lead Vancouver by nine points in the standings.
Miikka Kiprusoff was stellar between the pipes for Calgary, stopping 33 shots, including all eight he faced in the final period. Kiprusoff is 9-4-1 with a 2.12 goals against average lifetime versus Phoenix.
Todd Bertuzzi is questionable for tonight due to a hip flexor that has held him out of the last three games.
Calgary will play in Colorado on Sunday before returning home for three straight games.
The Flames had won four straight over the Coyotes before suffering a 4-2 home defeat against them on November 4. Calgary has still won five of seven and nine of the last 12 matchups and has also won four of six and seven of the last 10 at home in the series.
Phoenix has won three of its last four contests and helped out the Flames last time on the ice with a 4-1 win over the Canucks on Thursday. Joakim Lindstrom notched two early goals, while Keith Yandle and Peter Mueller also tallied for the Coyotes.
Yandle's goal was just his second of the season and first since October 11, his first contest of the season. Shane Doan added two assists for Phoenix.
Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 saves to earn his 16th win of the season. He is 2-5-1 with a 2.73 GAA in his career against the Flames.
Phoenix has split the first two tests of a four-game road trip that ends in Edmonton on Sunday. The Coyotes have still lost five of their last seven on the road, where they are 7-12-3 this season.
01/17 10:56:29 ET