FLAMES (16-15-2) at COYOTES (11-15-5)
9 p.m. ET; FS-A, SNF, NHL.TV
Flames team scope
Goalie Brian Elliott will make his first start for the Calgary Flames since a 2-1 overtime loss at the New York Islanders on Nov. 28. Elliott has lost his past seven starts and is 3-9-1 with a 3.31 goals-against average and .886 save percentage. "We wanted to get him back going," coach Glen Gulutzan told the Flames website. "Looking back at the Islander game where he played well for us and he got a little work in relief in one period ... It's time for him to get going." Elliott takes over for Chad Johnson, who allowed a combined eight goals in back-to-back home losses to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets after giving up nine during a six-game winning streak. "I've sensed a lot of hunger," Gulutzan said of Elliott. "For him, the character, we always talk about it, the work ethic never changed. It actually just kept pumping up the volume. He's done everything that a good pro would do in preparation for this game." The Flames play the first of 11 straight games against Western Conference opponents. They have won five in a row against the West, outscoring opponents 21-9.
Coyotes team scope
Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan remains one goal from becoming the eighth active player and 93rd in NHL history to score 400. The Coyotes begin a five-game homestand following a 2-2-0 road trip and are seven points behind the Flames for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. "We have a really nice stretch at home with five important games and we have to grab those points," forward Tobias Rieder said. "Calgary is a hard-working team that's not going to give up on anything. They will battle and we have to be ready for that. The team that wins the little battles will win the game." Rookie Brendan Perlini had the only goal in a 4-1 loss at the Minnesota Wild on Saturday and has points in back-to-back games, but will be a healthy scratch. "He has to play the game fast," coach Dave Tippett said. "Puck battles along the walls, making good decisions, those are things he needs to work on." Defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, who has six power-play points, will also be scratched. Goalie Mike Smith will make his 18th start. Smith is fifth in the NHL with a .930 save percentage and is 4-2-0 in six games where he has made at least 40 saves.
Flames projected lineup
Kris Versteeg -- Sean Monahan -- Troy Brouwer
Johnny Gaudreau -- Sam Bennett -- Alex Chiasson
Matthew Tkachuk -- Mikael Backlund -- Michael Frolik
Micheal Ferland -- Matt Stajan -- Garnet Hathaway
Mark Giordano -- Dougie Hamilton
Jyrki Jokipakka -- Deryk Engelland
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Scratched: Freddie Hamilton, Lance Bouma, Tyler Wotherspoon
Injured: Ladislav Smid (neck)
Coyotes projected lineup
Lawson Crouse -- Martin Hanzal -- Radim Vrbata
Jamie McGinn -- Peter Holland -- Anthony Duclair
Tobias Rieder -- Jordan Martinook -- Shane Doan
Josh Jooris -- Christian Dvorak -- Ryan White
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Connor Murphy
Alex Goligoski -- Michael Stone
Mike Smith
Scratched: Anthony DeAngelo, Kevin Connauton, Brendan Perlini
Injured: Max Domi (hand surgery), Brad Richardson (broken leg)
Status report
Wotherspoon was recalled from Stockton of the American Hockey League on Monday. Hathaway is expected to play in place of Bouma. … Crouse will play with Hanzal and Vrbata on the top line.
Who's hot
Monahan has five goals and 11 points during a nine-game point streak. Gaudreau is on a six-game point streak with two goals and 10 points. The Flames have scored a power-play goal in seven straight games, their longest streak since eight in a row from Dec. 17-31, 2005. … Holland had two assists in his Coyotes debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 13 and scored the deciding goal in the shootout against the Toronto Maple Leafs two nights later.
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