Recap: Flames 4, Coyotes 1

[December 05, 2013]  (SportsDirect Inc.)

CALGARY, Alberta — Flames 4, Coyotes 1: Captain Mark Giordano recorded a power-play goal and an assist in his return from a broken ankle as host Calgary posted its second straight win.

Fellow defenseman T.J. Brodie also registered a goal and an assist while Mikael Backlund and Lee Stempniak tallied for the Flames, who improved to 4-7-2 in their last 13 games. Matt Stajan and Jiri Hudler each notched two assists and Karri Ramo made 29 saves.

Blue-liner Keith Yandle scored for Phoenix, which is 1-1-0 on its four-game road trip. Thomas Greiss stopped 14 shots as the Coyotes dropped to 2-4-1 in their last seven contests.

Giordano made his presence felt after missing 18 games, unleashing a one-timer from the right point that deflected off Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette's stick and past Greiss during a power play at 11:46 of the second period for a 3-1 lead. The defenseman also picked up an assist on a short-handed goal by Stempniak, who buried a cross-slot pass from Stajan during a 2-on-1 rush.

Phoenix opened the scoring at 4:47 of the first period as Yandle converted a feed from captain Shane Doan, but Brodie forged a tie with eight seconds remaining in the session on a blast from the right faceoff circle. Backlund gave the Flames a 2-1 lead 5:48 into the second, one-timing a cross-slot pass from Hudler past Greiss.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Calgary went 5-11-2 during Giordano's absence. ... Ramo has made two straight starts, winning both while allowing one goal in each. ... Coyotes RW Radim Vrbata had his five-game point streak come to an end.