Coming off arguably their best two game stretch since the All-Star break the Calgary Flames will be looking to keep things going tonight against the Arizona Coyotes.
The Flames' record over the last couple months is far from something to write home about but they've won two of three, and they put forth their best effort in what turned out to be their only loss in that small stretch.
Meanwhile the Coyotes have taken a nosedive down the standings following a good first half of the season.
They've won just once in their last 10 games and are now just two points ahead of the Flames as a result. It's took some time, obviously, but they've regressed back to the team everyone expected to see heading into the season.
It'll be interesting to see if they can buck the trend tonight or if the Flames and Coyotes continue to head in different directions.
LINEUPS Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland Hathaway - Backlund - Frolik Bouma - Jooris - Colborne Agostino - Stajan - Bollig
Giordano - Hamilton Jokipakka - Engelland Wotherspoon - Nakladal
Ortio
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Tanguay - Vermette - Duclair Rieder - Hanzal - Sekai Domi - Richardson - Doan Martinook - Gordon - Plotnikov
Grossmann - Stone Dahlbeck - Connauton Murphy - Michalek
Domingue
Notes
1) Dougie Hamilton has played 24+ minutes in consecutive games for the first time all season and has tallied four points and 25 shot attempts (17 of which have hit goal) over the last four games. Bob Hartley has been forced to use Hamilton out of necessity and the results have been encouraging.
2) The suddenly hot Joni Ortio will get the nod in goal once again. It's been a rough season for Flames goaltenders but he's been good of late allowing two or less in six of his last seven starts. If he can do that again tonight the Flames will probably walk away with two points.
The game is at 9:00 eastern and can be seen on Sportsnet West and FS-Arizona.
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