Flames fill the net to end road trip

GLENDALE, ARIZ. Five take-aways from the Flames’ 6-1 win over the Coyotes:

1.

REBOUNDING

After failing to hit the scoresheet last Friday in Las Vegas, the Flames rebounded to score six goals, including three shorthanded markers Sunday. Calgary’s 6-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes gave them 19 goals in their last four games. The Flames have out-scored their opponents 19-8 in that time. The Flames now head back to Calgary for a two-game homestand against the Dallas Stars Wednesday and the Los Angeles Kings Friday.

2.

NO LONGER ‘ROCK BOTTOM’ Remember when the Flames lost 9-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins? Since that game Oct. 25, they are 9-4-1 and have climbed to the top of the Pacific Division and sit fourth in the Western Conference. It seems like ages ago now, but Calgary has been rolling since hitting what Bill Peters called “rock bottom.”

3.

BRODIE HAS BEEN ROLLING TJ Brodie has been quietly improving his game all season. He’s skating well, defending sharply and is helping to drive the team’s offence. He scored short-handed, nabbed an assist on Mark Jankowski’s secondperiod marker and finished the game a plus-4.

4.

PETERS IS TOUGH

We all knew that Bill Peters is a tough man, but after absorbing a puck to his jaw, dropping to the bench and getting eight stitches before returning to the bench in the second, now it’s everyone else’s turn to be collectively impressed. The play had the entire bench worried along with patrons at Gila River Arena and those watching at home. But Peters was all good.

5.

DAYS OFF

The Flames have been in a schedule of playing every other night for the last six games. It’s been a nice rhythm, especially for creatures of habit like NHLers. And the Flames went 4-2-0 in those six games. But with a day off Monday, a practice Tuesday and another two-game homestand coming up Wednesday and Friday, they’ll be able to get some rest and put in some good work at practice.