Phoenix Coyotes looking to take advantage of dimming Calgary Flames -NHL Preview
Phoenix Coyotes have regrouped and are currently in a much better position they were just a few weeks ago as they have won eight of their past nine matchups and seem unstoppable at the moment, something the Calgary Flames are certainly not looking forward
to.
Coyotes and Flames will be going head-to-head in their Thursday night matchup, February 23, 2012, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, at 9:00 PM ET.
Many players on the Phoenix line-up are having the best time in their careers, including veteran right winger, Radim Vrbata, who, for the first time in his 10 season’s long career, has reached the 30 goal mark.
He was a major contributor in their last victory against Los Angeles Kings, 5-4, in a shootout and could be the deciding factor against Calgary with some newly gained momentum.
"We didn't have the start we wanted," said Vrbata. "We knew that they would come out hard and they did. We were flat in the first (period) but after the first we talked in the dressing room about how we wanted to make a comeback. … (It was) a big win, a
big two points."
Calgary on the other hand, is right back where they were stuck at this time during the 2010-2011 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, at the ninth number spot and barely below the playoff divisional line.
"Now we're in ninth again and we gotta get back next game and climb back up," Calgary Flames veteran captain, Jarome Iginla, said.
The Flames fell down to the Coyotes in their last matchup earlier this month on Thursday, February 9, in an intense overtime extension, but even now, the Phoenix Coyotes team is definitely not underestimating thing and of course, it would be very wrong to
do so.
The issue with Calgary is they cannot seem to get a consistent run this season which has forced them to stay below while other teams grab consecutive wins. They lost their last to a young Edmonton Oilers team, 6-1, which has certainly downed their morale.
Prediction:
Phoenix Coyotes will take the match, which just might head into overtime.
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