The Phoenix Coyotes and Calgary Flames are among several teams fighting for a playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference race. Neither can afford a loss in this head-to-head matchup.
The visiting Coyotes will try to win their fourth straight against the Flames on Tuesday night in the final regular-season meeting between the teams.
Phoenix (36-23-11) and Calgary (36-26-9) are two of nine teams in the West that have at least 80 points, with the Flames owning a one-point lead over Nashville for the eighth and final playoff spot.
The Flames are two points behind the Coyotes, who beat Calgary 3-0 on Thursday before the Flames fell 4-3 to Vancouver on Saturday. Before those consecutive losses, Calgary had won eight of 11.
After losing for the third time in as many games this season to Phoenix, the Flames led Vancouver 2-0 early in the first period and 3-2 midway through the second before falling short.
Jarome Iginla(notes), who leads the Flames with 30 goals and 67 points, was held without a goal for a third straight game. He has one assist over that span.
Iginla doesn’t have a point in the three losses to Phoenix and has just three assists in the last 10 meetings.
With the Flames fighting for a playoff spot, Iginla knows this will be a key matchup as his team tries to win the final two games of a three-game homestand.
“We can catch them,” Iginla said. “We don’t have to watch other people play. We have a chance to take care of that ourselves.”
The Coyotes are also feeling the pressure. They’ve won two straight and three of four following a five-game skid.
“You’re going to drive yourself crazy if you look at those standings that hard every day,” coach Dave Tippett said. “We have the focus right now that every game is going to be the game that puts you in the playoffs, and we have to play every one just like it’s a playoff game.”
Phoenix followed its win over Calgary with a 5-2 victory against Anaheim on Sunday in the opener of a four-game road trip. Lauri Korpikoski’s(notes) second goal of the game gave the Coyotes the lead for good.
Shane Doan(notes) had a goal and two assists. He’s scored in each of the last three games and has six goals and nine assists in the last 14.
“He sure looks good right now,” Tippett said. “He’s our leading goal-scorer - and if you said that in training camp, you would have probably raised a few eyebrows. But he is just playing terrific.”
Doan scored last week against the Flames after missing the first two meetings.
Ilya Bryzgalov(notes) has started all three games against the Flames, posting a 1.67 goals-against average. He has won his last five starts versus Calgary.
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