Calgary, which lost 7-3 at the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, is two points behind the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference and four points behind the Anaheim Ducks for third place in the Pacific Division. Arizona is on a season-best four-game winning streak and is 5-0-1 in its past six games. The Coyotes have allowed two goals or fewer in seven of their past 12 games.
Players to watch
Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in his past 11 games and has 29 points (six goals, 23 assists) in his past 23. Coyotes goalie Antti Raanta is 3-0-0 with a 0.90 goals-against average and a .976 save percentage in his past four games (three starts).
They said it
"We have to start looking at these games as must-wins." -- Flames defenseman Mark Giordano to the Calgary Herald on the playoff race "If you watch his games, especially the last month or three weeks, he's really given us a chance to win. Even if there's a soft goal, what I like is he's battled and he won't let that next goal in." -- Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet on goalie Antti Raanta
Gillies will start after Rittich played in the loss to Vegas. The Flames did not skate on Thursday so there was no update on Smith. … Kuemper took part in the morning skate and will back up Raanta. Arizona acquired Kuemper on Wednesday in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings for forward Tobias Rieder and goalie Scott Wedgewood. The Coyotes signed Kuemper to a two-year contract on Thursday.
Stat pack
Monahan has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in his past 11 games. Dougie Hamilton has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past four games. … Keller has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past six games. Stepan has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his past seven games. Goligoski has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past seven games.
