Calgary @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2019 ) Arizona 3, Calgary 4

The Arizona Coyotes came up short in their bid to complete a perfect three-game road trip, dropping a 3-2 decision at Minnesota on Thursday after posting back-to-back shootout wins at Washington and St. Louis -- the past two Stanley Cup champions. The Coyotes will play three straight and five of their next six at home beginning with Saturday afternoon's matchup against the Calgary Flames.

Arizona is in second place in the Pacific Division -- one point ahead of Calgary -- despite a mediocre record at home, splitting eight decisions. "I don't think anything's really missing. I just think we've got to get better," Coyotes forward Conor Garland said. "We're at the quarter point. If we keep getting better every day and come to work and do our job, then we should be fine." Losers of two in a row, the Flames endured a major scare when defenseman T.J. Brodie collapsed at practice Thursday and suffered an apparent seizure. Brodie was released from the hospital after what the team said was likely a “fainting episode” but there is no timetable for his return.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Sportsnet Flames (Calgary), FS Arizona, FS Arizona-Plus

ABOUT THE FLAMES (10-8-3): General manager Brad Treliving offered an update Friday on Brodie, telling reporters that the veteran blue-liner is feeling sore and does not remember collapsing. "All of the tests that have been done to date have come back negative. He’s doing well," Treliving said. "We’re not going to leave any stone unturned in terms of the tests we go through.” Calgary scored only three times in its last two contests to finish 2-1-1 on a four-game homestand, which started with Matthew Tkachuk scoring two goals and setting up another in a 4-3 overtime win over Arizona on Nov. 5.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (11-7-2): Coach Rick Tocchet said captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson played perhaps his best game of the season Tuesday at St. Louis but he was displeased after his star defenseman's penalty led to a third-period goal Thursday. “When he is on his game, O is not deferring. He’s more aggressive," Tocchet said. "His reads, his decision making and his skating, when they’re on point, he’s as good as anybody there is, but when he defers or he’s not aggressive, he’s going to struggle." Ekman-Larsson has only two points at home this season and 21 in 35 games versus Calgary.

OVERTIME

1. Coyotes G Darcy Kuemper, who did not play in Calgary, is 3-1-1 with a 1.97 goals-against average versus the Flames.

2. Flames F Johnny Gaudreau scored in the earlier meeting and has six goals and 19 points in 22 games versus Arizona.

3. Garland has scored in back-to-back games to boost his team-high total to nine goals.

PREDICTION: Flames 3, Coyotes 2