Calgary @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 16, 2019 ) Calgary 0, Arizona 3

The Calgary Flames have won five consecutive games since coach Geoff Ward took over but face a stern test Tuesday when they host the first-place Arizona Coyotes and their league-best defense. Arizona, which is tied with Edmonton atop the Pacific Division, surrenders the fewest goals in the NHL at 2.28 per game, while Calgary has averaged 3.8 during its winning streak - up from 2.37 when Ward took over.

None of the four goals and three assists that Calgary center Sean Monahan has compiled during his six-game point streak were bigger than the breakaway goal he scored in overtime Monday to give the Flames a 5-4 victory at Colorado. Calgary’s season has turned around since the resignation of former coach Bill Peters on Nov. 29 as the Flames were 1-5-2 before their winning streak began and tallied more than four goals Monday for first time since Nov. 7. The Coyotes are showing a resiliency that has lacked throughout their seven-season playoff drought as proven by Sunday’s 4-3 shootout win over Chicago that saw them twice rally from two goals down in the first period. “We had some good shifts in the first where we had a lot of zone time,” Arizona goaltender Darcy Kuemper told reporters after his 26-save performance. “We came in and talked about it and went over some things we could use against them and we were able to take over there.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Calgary), FS Arizona (Arizona)

ABOUT THE FLAMES (16-12-4): Goaltender David Rittich made 28 saves Monday to earn his 14th win of the season but will likely make way for Cam Talbot, who is 2-5-0 with an .895 save percentage. Center Dillon Dube followed up his first career multi-point game with two assists Monday, including the primary assist on Monahan's tally, after the 21-year-old had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the Kings. Derek Ryan scored his fifth of the season against the Avalanche and leads the team with a plus-8 rating - one of six players on the team who is above even.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (18-10-4): Arizona may employ the frontrunner for the Vezina Trophy through the season’s first two months as Kuemper leads the league with a .935 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average. Right winger Conor Garland scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season against the Blackhawks and also delivered the shootout winner to give the Coyotes a league-best five in the bonus format. Prized offseason acquisition Phil Kessel has chipped in with six goals and 12 assists but is a team-worst minus-16 - one of five players on the team who is below even.

OVERTIME

1. Arizona C Nick Schmaltz is tied for 74th in the NHL with his team-high 22 points.

2. Monahan on Monday extended his franchise record with his 11th career overtime goal.

3. Arizona LW Clayton Keller has one goal in his last 13 games and has scored on only 5.7 percent of his shots this season.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Flames 1