Dominant Phoenix Coyotes look to win seventh straight against struggling Calgary Flames - NHL Preview
Phoenix Coyotes have surged in the second half of the season climbing into the top four in the Western Conference and they will look to continue that run against struggling Calgary Flames on Thursday, March 1st, 2012.
Phoenix will be confident to make it seven games in a row on Thursday when they face the Flames at the Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes surge in the final half of the season has turned around their fortunes completely. Lagging just behind the playoff spots for most of the season, Phoenix put in some brilliant performances to move into the top half of the Western Conference.
Phoenix is currently third with 75 points and will be confident of gaining a further two points against a struggling Flames side whose own run for a playoff spots has been dealt a huge blow by recent results.
The Flames are on a four game skid and have dropped down to 11th in the Western Conference with 67 points.
Calgary’s season looked on the verge of a turnaround as they fought their way back up the standings to challenge for eighth spot yet their recent skid has once again put them in danger of ending the season in mediocrity.
Coyotes (33-21-9, 75 pts)
On a six-game winning run and with their offensive line firing on all cylinders, the Coyotes will be favourites to once again defeat the Flames.
They faced the same opponents on Thursday, February 23rd and in a closely fought encounter just about managed to come out with both points in a 4-3 shootout win.
After that game Phoenix defeated a fighting Edmonton Oilers side and followed it up with a crucial win over the league’s best team Vancouver Canucks.
That last victory over Vancouver has really raised the confidence in Phoenix and inform left winger Ray Whitney was more than impressed by the team’s achievements.
"That was a heck of a month by any team's standards and we had to earn them both home and on the road," Whitney said. "We beat some quality teams."
Flames (28-24-11, 67 pts)
Just a week ago, the Flames were on the verge of securing eighth spot after a brilliant turnaround of their season in the New Year.
However, what followed was an unexpected 6-1 drubbing at the hands of a young Edmonton Oilers side and with their game looking shorn of any confidence the Flames went on to lose their next three games.
Against a Phoenix side playing like champions the Flames run does not show any signs of ending and it will take a big performance from Calgary to end their skid.
Predictions
Coyotes will be the favourites to win once again over Calgary Flames.
It was a close encounter the last time these two teams faced each other in Calgary but at home the Coyotes will be looking to score lots of goals.
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