CALGARY - Mike Smith will get his third consecutive start this afternoon when the Flames host the Coyotes at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The netminder is coming off a win in Pittsburgh in Saturday, making 34 saves on the 38 shots he faced in the 5-4 victory.

Here are the projected lines and defence pairings, which are based off of Saturday's game and Sunday's practice:

Flames (35-16-7: 77 pts.) vs. Coyotes (26-27-5: 57 pts.)

2 p.m. MT | TV: Sportsnet West| Radio: Sportsnet 960 The FAN

Season Series: 2-0-0-0

All-Time Regular-Season Series Record vs. Arizona: 96-75-20-7

Flames Home Record: 17-5-5

Coyotes Road Record: 15-13-2

Current leading scorers:

Flames

Points: Johnny Gaudreau (78)

Goals: Gaudreau (29)

Coyotes

Points: Clayton Keller (38)

Goals: Alex Galchenyuk (13)

BILL PETERS ON MONDAY MATINEE 

"If it was a night game I probably wouldn't have practiced (Sunday) but it is a 2 o'clock game and I wanted to make sure the goalies got some shots and get the motor running a little bit."

Sam he is.

Or is becoming.

More and more.

"What's different?" repeats Flames GM Brad Treliving to the question put to him. "Identify a greatest growth area in Sam Bennett?

"Well, I'd say in just being himself. In being more comfortable in his own skin.

"In realizing he can be a major player here, can have a real impact and that that impact is not solely statistically based.

"We expect him to produce offensively and he will, he does. But he gives us a certain different skill set that not a lot of guys possess. 

"There's an abrasiveness, a competitiveness, a hardness, to him that you can't just walk down to the corner store and find any day of the week."

For two of the first three games of the road trip, the Flames likely deserved a better fate.

But the normally red-hot, red-and-white-clad gunslingers hit a rare dry spell and just couldn't cash.

That, despite outshooting their opponents 91-57 in a pair of shootout setbacks.

Today?

The supporting cast came alive and all four lines contributed to what can only be described as the ultimate team win.

PITTSBURGH - The Flames will be without James Neal in this morning's game against the Penguins.

The veteran forward suffered a lower body injury in Thursday's game against the Panthers and has been ruled out of today's matinee match-up.

In response, the Flames recalled Curtis Lazar from the Stockton Heat. Either or Austin Czarnik could slip into the lineup today. Due to the uncertainty, today's projected lines are speculative, based upon Thursday's game and Friday's practice:

FLAMES (34-16-7; 75 PTS) at PENGUINS (30-20-7; 67 PTS)

11:00 a.m. | TV: Sportsnet West | RADIO: Sportsnet 960 The FAN

Season Series: 0-1-0    

All-time: 43-44-18-2

Flames Road Record: 17-11-2

Penguins Home Record: 16-10-2

Leading Scorers:

Flames:

Points - Johnny Gaudreau (78)
Goals - Gaudreau, Sean Monahan (29)

Penguins:

Points - Sidney Crosby (66)
Goals - Jake Guentzel (27)

PITTSBURGH - It's been a rough week for James Neal.

On Saturday in Vancouver, the winger took a high-stick to the face, knocking out eight of his teeth and forcing him to miss Monday's practice to get some dental work done.

He was able to play in Tampa, remaining unscathed in that tilt, but on Thursday in Sunrise, he suffered a lower body injury that knocked him out of the game.

On Friday afternoon, head coach Bill Peters confirmed he will be out in the final game of the Flames' road trip, a stop at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

"Nealer's going to get looked at by the doctors when we get home."

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Flames announce today that they have recalled forward Curtis Lazar from the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League.