:flames: @ :yotes: Preview
Season series -- It's the second meeting of the season and also the second in slightly more than a week as the Flames pulled out a 2-1 win at Pengrowth Saddledome on Nov. 25. Nigel Dawes ended a 12-game goal-less streak by scoring the winner with 5:44 remaining in regulation, while the team ended its home woes that saw four losses five games.
Big story -- The Flames have turned into the ultimate road warriors of the NHL, picking up points in 10 consecutive away games, tying a franchise record. November overall has been a month to remember for Calgary, in which they went 10-2-2; the 10 wins one short of another franchise record, eight of those victories on the road as well.
Since that game in Calgary, the Coyotes have strung together a pair of impressive division wins against the Stars and the Ducks and look to start December somewhat better than they did November, which they opened with a 4-7-1 record.
Who's hot -- On the Flames, you can pick any aspect of the game and find someone who's doing well with it. Offense? There's Jarome Iginla with 20 points in 14 games and the NHL First Star for November honors to show for it. Dawes stopped his slump against the Coyotes and then scored goals in three more games since. Defense? Dion Phaneuf had 35 hits in November, Mark Giordano 24, Jay Bouwmeester blocked 21 shots. Goaltending? Miikka Kiprusoff is nursing a 129:30 shutout streak with back-to-back goose eggs to his credit.
Injury report -- Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski and forward Peter Mueller skated on Tuesday and are still questionable for Thursday. Flames forward Rene Bourque, who missed six games with an undisclosed upper-body injury, told reporters he will definitely be ready to play against Phoenix.
Season series -- It's the second meeting of the season and also the second in slightly more than a week as the Flames pulled out a 2-1 win at Pengrowth Saddledome on Nov. 25. Nigel Dawes ended a 12-game goal-less streak by scoring the winner with 5:44 remaining in regulation, while the team ended its home woes that saw four losses five games.
Big story -- The Flames have turned into the ultimate road warriors of the NHL, picking up points in 10 consecutive away games, tying a franchise record. November overall has been a month to remember for Calgary, in which they went 10-2-2; the 10 wins one short of another franchise record, eight of those victories on the road as well.
Since that game in Calgary, the Coyotes have strung together a pair of impressive division wins against the Stars and the Ducks and look to start December somewhat better than they did November, which they opened with a 4-7-1 record.
Who's hot -- On the Flames, you can pick any aspect of the game and find someone who's doing well with it. Offense? There's Jarome Iginla with 20 points in 14 games and the NHL First Star for November honors to show for it. Dawes stopped his slump against the Coyotes and then scored goals in three more games since. Defense? Dion Phaneuf had 35 hits in November, Mark Giordano 24, Jay Bouwmeester blocked 21 shots. Goaltending? Miikka Kiprusoff is nursing a 129:30 shutout streak with back-to-back goose eggs to his credit.
Injury report -- Coyotes defenseman Ed Jovanovski and forward Peter Mueller skated on Tuesday and are still questionable for Thursday. Flames forward Rene Bourque, who missed six games with an undisclosed upper-body injury, told reporters he will definitely be ready to play against Phoenix.
