Amid the rumors the franchise will move to Salt Lake City next season, the Arizona Coyotes are enjoying one of their best runs of the campaign heading into Sunday’s road game against the Calgary Flames.
The Coyotes (35-40-5, 75 points) are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday and have won four of five games. They rattled off wins over the Pacific Division-leading Vancouver Canucks and defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights as they head to the final stop of a five-game road trip.
Speculation has abounded since January about the team being purchased by the majority owner of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, Ryan Smith, and an announcement of the club’s future is expected before the team plays its season finale in Tempe, Ariz., on Wednesday.
“It was definitely in our heads,” Coyotes forward Clayton Keller said of the rumors. “You can say it’s not a distraction sometimes, but obviously families, people keep texting, keeping it in your head.”
To its credit, Arizona is pushing to finish the season on a positive note. The Canucks are trying to fend off the Oilers for top spot in the division, and the Coyotes put in top-shelf performances.
“We were tuned in. The game in Vancouver was a little more emotional, to be honest,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “I think (Friday) we were a little more composed and under control. We played rock solid, they had a push and I think we held on, our goalie made some good saves. I think we battled. The guys are unbelievable because they kept their focus.”
The Flames (36-38-5, 77 points), who also have been eliminated from playoff contention, return home after winning two of three games on a road trip through California. Calgary claimed a 6-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
Even though the club is looking forward to next season, Nazem Kadri continues to shine down the stretch, and made his 900th career regular-season game one to remember by netting one goal and two assists in Anaheim.
“You can’t really hold anybody to a standard that you’re not following yourself. I’ve learned that throughout my years,” Kadri said. “You’ve got to be able to practice what you preach. I think that’s what most guys respect, guys that show up night in and night out; you earn the respect of your teammates, your coaches and the organization.”
Calgary dominated the Ducks through the first two periods while staking a 4-0 lead, but watched it become a one-goal game due to a trio of Anaheim goals in a 4:07 span of the third period. However, Andrei Kuzmenko scored twice in the final frame to post his second career hat trick and seal the victory.
“A very good step up for me,” said Kuzmenko, who has collected eight goals and 14 points in an eight-game stretch.
The Flames struggled all season with the power play, but thanks to the acquisition of Kuzmenko via trade with Vancouver and defenseman Daniil Miromanov from the Golden Knights, the Flames have scored 12 power-play goals in their past eight games.
