Flames-Coyotes Preview
The Calgary Flames are near the bottom of the NHL's overall standings, and they'll likely stay there unless they find a way to improve their play away from home.
With coach Bob Hartley potentially shuffling his lines, the Flames seek just their second road win this month Friday night against the Arizona Coyotes.
Only Edmonton (15) entered Thanksgiving with fewer points than Calgary (8-13-1), and a 3-8-1 road record is among the biggest reasons why the Flames have struggled to recapture last season's success.
After home wins over New Jersey and Chicago, Calgary was poised for its first three-game streak of the season with a 3-2 lead entering the third period Tuesday at Anaheim. Instead, the Flames surrendered three unanswered goals en route to a 5-3 loss, their 21st straight in Anaheim.
"We've been like that on the road for quite a bit," said Michael Frolik, who scored twice. "We can't finish up the whole 60 minutes. We had a good start tonight, but we just need to find a way to win those kinds of games."
Tuesday marked Calgary's seventh consecutive game with three goals or fewer, and it has totaled only 14 while losing five of six on the road.
Hartley switched up his lines at Thursday's practice and said they could be used against Arizona (11-9-1). His top line featured Sean Monahan centering leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau and David Jones.
"Don't be surprised if you see those same lines tomorrow morning at morning skate," Hartley told the team's official website. "We're trying to create a balance. We could always go back to the lines that we had because I felt that we had pretty good chemistry but at the same time we want to get more offense."
Hartley did confirm that Karri Ramo will make his 12th consecutive start in net. Ramo is 2-6-0 with a 3.41 goals-against average on the road this season, but is 4-0-0 with a 1.25 GAA in four career starts against the Coyotes. He stopped 26 shots in a 3-0 victory at Arizona on Nov. 29, 2014, in his only appearance there.
The Coyotes kicked off a busy stretch of three home games in four days with Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Ducks. Antoine Vermette scored his first goal of the season in the second period and added an empty-netter to help Arizona win its third in four home games.
"When you're younger, maybe you're more sensitive to those stretches, but you know if you keep putting in the work, eventually it's going to come," Vermette said.
Anthony Duclair extended his point streak to five games with his eighth goal, tying fellow rookie Max Domi for the team lead. Domi ranks second among all first-year players with 18 points.
"I'm feeling great and getting confidence from all the guys helping me out," Duclair said. "I'm happy with my game all around. I think I'm getting better that way."
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett needs one win for the 500th of his career, but his team lost all five meetings with the Flames last season.
Mike Smith was in net for four of those defeats, posting a 3.81 GAA.
Arizona captain Shane Doan sat out Wednesday due to a lower-body injury and is day to day.