"We need to look after ourselves … we're not out of the woods by any stretch. We've got games in hand on people. We're in a good spot right now but we've got games in hand and every game we have to win."
The Coyotes have struggled all season, but more in the last few weeks.
Goaltender Mike Smith was furious with his team the 'Yotes gave up a season-high 60 shots against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 3 but narrowly lost in a shootout. They turned around and surrendered another 34 shots two nights later and dropped a 4-1 decision to the Jackets.
Arizona has now lost five straight games and only scored one goal in their last two games. They sit near the bottom of the Pacific Division with an 8-13-4 record.
"We've just got our footing under us but to me, this is a game we've got to approach real hard," Gulutzan said.
Calgary will wrap up their two-game road swing tonight and then head home to battle the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday at Scotiabank Saddledome, which follows a very busy stretch for the Flames where they played 21 games in 30 days.
Gulutzan is putting an emphasis on rest and taking every opportunity ensure his team is ready to go when it's time to earn two points.
"If you look at the standings, we've played three, sometimes five games than most teams," Gulutzan said. "Managing rest in this league is key, especially in a season like this. It's days off is really what it is. It's things we do in that locker room to keep things positive and keep that energy level high.
"We're trying to do that on a daily basis. When you play as much as we have - every second night - 16 games in November and then every second night until December 10, we take days off and when we get little lulls in our schedule we can sharpen up and have some practices."
NOTES: The Flames sent Brett Kulak to Stockton of the AHL and recalled defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon on Thursday morning.
