This is an exciting part of the NHL season. The trade deadline is almost upon us, and teams are starting to jockey for playoff position with the end of the season close. Tonight the Calgary Flames (28-23-9) play host to the Phoenix Coyotes (30-21-9) at the Pengrowth Saddledome. It’s the second game of a four game homestand for the Flames, and it also finishes off a series of four games against Western Conference foes, three of whom are close to the Flames in playoff positioning.
The Flames are coming off a blowout loss to the Oilers on Tuesday, as well as a recent shootout loss to these same Coyotes, 2-1 two weeks prior on February 9th. The Coyotes took a long flight after a shootout win over the Kings on Tuesday (which was, for all intents and purposes, the worst result for the Flames), and are in the middle of their own West-heavy schedule: they haven’t played an Eastern Conference team since January 24th against the Senators, and don’t again until March 5th against the Penguins, after another date with the Flames in Phoenix.
Phoenix is technically tied with San Jose for third in the West at 69 points, but the Sharks have two games in hand on the ‘Yotes. They’ve been a strong defensive team for the majority of the season, as they’re currently seventh-best in the league in goals allowed per game. This will be the debut of new Coyote Antoine Vermette, having recently been acquired from the Blue Jackets. The Coyotes are looking for him to add some offensive punch despite his recent struggles: He had career highs of 27 goals and 38 assists in 2010.
After what could charitably be described as a lethargic showing against the Oil, the Flames need to rebound against a competing playoff team, especially now that they’re on the outside looking in. For a team whose calling card is defence, six goals against- with three coming in a four minute span in the second period- is unacceptable. As we’ve mentioned in this space before, the Flames are a max-effort team: any drop in their intensity for even a moment will result in them being on the outside looking in come playoff time. Hopefully we’ll see that renewed intensity in their own zone, and players other than Miikka Kiprusoff decide to show up.