More photos » John Bazemore - AP

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And when I say the Phoenix Coyotes are almost home I don't mean from the roadtrip, but to a home in the Playoffs. Technically our magic number after tonight would be 7, but realistically it's not going to take quite that to get in. But guess what? I'm not even thinking about magic numbers with San Jose losing games and us continuing our winning ways bringing a 5 game winning streak into the St. Pete Time Forum against the Lightning. Dream big. Get the division. Shock the world. 

On to the matter at hand though. I need to focus on one game at a time much like the guys do. I'm getting ahead of myself. Tonight we face a Tampa Bay team that has really fallen off the map since the last time we met in November. They looked like a resurgent team under new leadership as well. But since then they've slowly gone backwards and now find themselves in 10th place in the East 4 points back of Boston who's in 8th. To say the Lightning need this win would be an understatement at this point. That doesn't mean we're going to cough them up by any means though. We'll need to be on the lookout for the top line of Steven Stamkos - Martin St. Louis - Steve Downie as they've been bringing it lately. Downie of course was involved in the Crosby hit that got so much play this weekend, but the line is scoring in bunches even if it's not translating into wins. If there's a weak spot to exploit it's got to be the goaltending. It's been streaky all year with Mike Smith getting starts here and there behind Antero Niittymaki. Niittymaki has been more solid, with a GAA of 2.69 and a.914 sv%. Even so he's only seen 39 starts with Smith getting about 30. Niitty is expected to get the start tonight. 

Hopefully the Coyotes got some rest after a hard fought overtime win in Atlanta on a quick turn around. They did practice yesterday so there wasn't just off time, but somethings got to look better as they just looked asleep on Sunday. The did manage to find a way to win as Jason LaBarbera at least looked rested. Ilya Bryzgalov will take over again as he was stellar against Carolina. Look for the NHL's second star of the week Lee Stempniak to stay involved as well as he's just been on fire. 6G, 1A +7 in 5 games so far. Martin Hanzal didn't practice yesterday, though the Coyotes said his injury that he suffered early in the Thrashers' game wasn't serious. He'll either be back or we might see Robert Lang back in the line up or even just move someone else to center and put one of the wings in. The scratches from last game were Petr Prucha, Viktor Tikhonov and Jim Vandermeer with Lang and Sami Lepisto out for injuries. We'll see if anyone played hard enough in practice today to get back some ice time. 

STARTING GOALTENDERS

Last time out he shutout Carolina and now leads the league and is tied for the team record in shutouts. If he's seeing the puck even half as well as he did in Carolina the Lightning will be in serious trouble. 

Like I said before looking at the record he's alright statistically, but he's streaky. A lot of the Ws in that record came in an 8 game stretch between Jan. 21 and Feb. 9 where he went 7-1. Other than that he's been spotty. He'll have a good game or two and then implode so Smith gets a call. His last game was a tough 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. 

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More photos » Karl B DeBlaker - AP

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Well it's certainly a quick turn around for the Phoenix Coyotes as they play the Atlanta Thrashers today at 2pm our time after finishing up with the Hurricanes at 7:30 last night. That's just barely outside of the minimum time allowed for a back to back in the CBA, but the guys will have to pretend like they're completely rested. 

The Coyotes will carry the momentum of a shutout win over the Hurricanes into this afternoon's game, but they'll try to do it with backup Jason LaBarbera in in relief. LaBarbera hasn't had an outstanding season per se, but when he's scheduled to play instead of just getting a game because Bryz is having an off day he tends to do pretty well. Hopefully we see the LaBarbera that's capable of stonewalling a team and not the spaztastic one that misses simple saves. IT also helps when we're not allowing breakaway chances to doom him though.

The Thrashers were in the playoff race for the first half of the season or so, but have tapered off of late. They've lost their last 5 games and are only 4-9 since the beginning of February. Not good news for a team that much like the Coyotes could really use a playoff run this year. 

STARTING GOALTENDERS

In LaBarbera's last start, all the way back on February 3rd, he did a solid job of stifling the Chicago Blackhawks to get a 2-1 in the shootout. he made 28 saves on 29 shots in that outing with the Coyotes playing solidly in front of him. It seems like everytime he plays the most important part of the game is about the first ten minutes or so. If he can make a big stop or two early the team in front relaxes and can play their game rather than worrying about making saves themselves.

While it's certainly possible that Johan Hedberg gets the start, he's been shaky the last couple of games so I'd go with Pavelec tonight. He doesn't have the best numbers either if you look at the GAA and sv%, but Someone has to find a streak for them right?

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More photos » Paul Connors - AP

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The Phoenix Coyotes begin a four game roadtrip through the Southeast Division tonight at RBC Center against the Carolina Hurricanes. While Carolina is toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference ladder in terms of the standings, there's still some hope that the team could make it in to the playoffs if they can find a way to keep putting together the wins. While they may be 8 points out of 8th win 15 games to go, the Canes have gone 8-1-1 over their last 10 after a terrible beginning to the season. Is it enough to get them into the playoffs? It could be in a weak east. That makes them one hungry team that's fueled by a lot of desperation at the moment.

That's not a good thing for the Coyotes who have not done well against the Canes in the past couple of seasons. we always seem to run into them when they get hot and get blasted. Hopefully that's a little different tonight as for the first time in... ever? the Coyotes are riding on their success heading into the final 15 games of the year. While the Hurricanes are fighting just to get in, the Coyotes at this point are battling to try and get home-ice in the first round. We keep going back and forth with the Kings Who we're no tied with both in points and have an identical record as. Both teams will figure to be hungry tonight.

One other note: The Coyotes recalled Viktor Tikhonov from the KHL as the season was done over in Russia. He's with the team, but there's no indication that he'll play tonight, or when he might see some playing time. We've got a lot of extra players now so the competition for ice time will be huge.

Starting Goaltenders

Bryz will get the first start of the 4 game trip tonight and against a hot Canes team it's probably the smart move. Bryzgalov is tied for the league lead in shutouts with 7 and if he can collect another he'll tied Nikolai Khabibulin for the team record. 

I know nearly nothing about the Hurricanes' rookie goaltender, but he's done well so far if you look at the stats. He'll get his second consecutive start and the Coyotes will have nearly no intel on him. We need to pepper him with shots quickly to try and get a read on him.

Note for new users: Use the preview to talk anything and everything about the game right up until gametime. a gamethread will be up later to talk during the game. Join up and chat even if you chat elsewhere too!

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More photos » Ross D. Franklin - AP

4 months ago: Phoenix Coyotes' Ilya Bryzgalov, of Russia, left, makes a save on a shot by Anaheim Ducks' Joffrey Lupul (14) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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[Note for new readers: The preview is where you should talk anything and everything about today's game before the game starts. There will be a gamethread to talk during the game up shortly before gametime. Until then chat away in the comments! Don't be shy!]

The Phoenix Coyotes will attempt to create yet another win streak after beating the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday. They'll attempt to do so against the Anaheim Ducks, who while they are in 13th place in the Western Conference, still have a shot at the playoffs as they're only five points out of 8th place. This Ducks team is going to have to really buckle down if that's the goal though as there are plenty of other teams that have picked it up for them to try and leapfrog. While in the spirit of sportsmanship I may wish them well, I also pragmatically want to crush their hopes and dreams like an egg. 

The Coyotes are coming off a nice win in which the new guys featured prominently. Wojtek Wolski got the game winner and Lee Stempniak scored in the opening of the game in the win. There's not much more to ask of your new bodies than to have them chip in on the scoring right away. Heck, that's why we wanted to bring them in in the first place. Derek Morris was shaky at the start but will improve the blueline and Mathieu Schneider cleared re-entry waivers just in time to face one of his former teams. Hopefully our power play looks a little more competent with him there. Ed Jovanovski should also return after missing a game with a minor injury last time out.

As for the Ducks, they ate it on Wednesday to the same team we beat on Thursday in the Avalanche. It was the first home loss in a while. Actually they hadn't lost at home since December 6th. While there's a large break for the Olympics in there, that's still a long time. However, it's that home record that has kept them in the hunt for a playoff berth as the record on the road has been bad at best. They're 4-6 in the last 10 road games and 11-17-5 overall. They also score 25% less goals on the road than at home despite having played 3 more road games (100 home goals in 30 games, 76 road goals in 33 games). We need to take advantage of the goalscoring dearth and jump on them early. And stay on them. 

Starting Goaltenders

Bryzgalov will go for the Coyotes single season record for goaltender wins in this start. He tied it with his 33rd win on Thursday and with still 16 games after this one will likely shatter that mark and put some distance between himself and the three goaltenders that share the 33 mark in Sean Burke (2001-02), Bob Essensa (1992-93) and Brian Hayward (1984-85)

Hiller let in a couple soft goals against Colorado on Wednesday, but has had some good practice time since to try and get things straightened out. The Coyotes will need to break their habit of making one too many passes and just get pucks on net from the get go to see if he's figured out the issues or if they can get a puck or two in quickly.

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More photos » Ross D. Franklin - AP

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Well this is it Coyotes fans, the last game before a long two week break for the Olympics. After a terrible loss to the Avalanche that the Coyotes should have found a way to win, the guys return home to face the Dallas Stars who have been in town for a couple of days already. This is the third time this season that the Coyotes will have faced the Stars in the second game of a back to back, splitting the previous two meetings.

Last night the Coyotes didn't play a terrible game, but needed to take advantage of the chances they had. Not that they had too many chances to do that either as every time they got things going on the power play they ended up getting some soft call against to negate the power play. Everything was even with about 4 minutes left, but the Avs were able to get the extra goal to win 2-1.

The Stars last played on Thursday taking the Flames down 3-1. It would have been a shutout had Brenden Morrow not cleared the puck into his own net. He was attempting to clear a turnover by Jerome Iginla, but just didn't get much and tipped it in. Other than that gaffe, the Stars were pretty well in control of the game. Marty Turco made 33 saves and Jaime Benn got another game winner.

Starting Goaltenders

I thought we might see LaBarbera in, but with two weeks off and playing backup to Evgeni Nabokov, keeping Bryz fresh could be a good thing. Bryz let in two goals on 25 shots, but didn't really have much of a chance on the second goal that changed direction on a Matt Duchene deflection.

Turco had a great game against Calgary on Thursday, only letting in a shot from his own teammate. Maybe Dallas acquiring Kari Lehtonen  is giving him a bit of a push to perform.

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More photos » Aaron J. Latham - AP

about 1 month ago: Phoenix Coyotes players tangle with Minnesota Wild players in front of the Coyotes' goal in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Glendale, Ariz. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Aaron J. Latham)

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The Coyotes will go for the season sweep in Minneapolis tonight as they face the wild for the 4th and final time this year. Coming into the season the Coyotes couldn't seem to figure out the Wild goaltending, but have been perfect in the previous 3 meetings.

The Coyotes come in a little dinged up, but the team is reporting that Vernon Fiddler and Shane Doan both took part in the morning skate, which is a good sign. Joel Perrault is still on the IR, but Jeff Hoggan and Mikkel Boedker have both been called in as replacements if need be.

The Wild last played on Saturday against the Flyers. Rookie goaltender Anton Khudobin was solid in goal for the Wild with Niklas Backstrom out with an illness and Josh Harding out with a hip injury. He had come in in relief the night before and done well, but he made 38 saves in the 2-1 win. Even performing well though, the Wild will go back  to Niklas Backstrom tonight. While we may be going for the sweep tonight Minnesota has been playing well lately, going 8-0-1 in the last 9 home games. taking them down will be a tough task for a team that hasn't had much offense except for an explosion against the league's weakest team.

The Starting Goalies

Of course the big Russian is in goal for us tonight. He's looked spectacular between the pipes lately and almost had his 7th shutout of the year until our guys stoped playing on Monday.

Backstrom was battling some sort of illness, the flu maybe, for the past week. That being said the Wild wouldn't be playing him if they didn't think he was ready to go with how Khudobin stepped up.

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More photos » Ross D. Franklin - AP

4 months ago: Dallas Stars right wing Krys Barch (13) tangles with Phoenix Coyotes' Paul Bissonnette during a fight in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes defeated the Stars 3-2. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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I hate these next day games. So much to do, so little time! In an effort to cross poliate our SBN blogosphere, the ladies and gents from Defending Big D will be joining us for the first period gamethread and w those assembled will make their way over to Defending Big D for the second. Though when I first asked Stars blogging boss Brandon Worley what we should do for the game his initial response was "WAR!" So maybe we give them a little bit of that too.

The Stars last played on Friday night against the Colorado Avalanche. The Stars took them down 3-2 mostly thanks to Mike Modano who had a couple goals including the game winner. Alex Auld was solid for them in net and has been particularly strong at home as Defending Big D notes that he's 5-0-1 at American Airlines Center.

Of course the Coyotes won last night over the New York Rangers in a game that was a little too exciting down the stretch. Jason LaBarbera was solid for pretty much the entire game and only came up short when the team in front of him allowed odd man rushes. Phoenix has now won 3 in a row after being up and down every night for a spell there.

The Phoenix Coyotes twitter account just updated that Robert Lang and Anders Ericsson are the likely scratches for the Coyotes meaning Mikkel Boedker stays in and Peter Muller returns to the lineup.

Tonight's Goaltenders

Jason LaBarbera got the start last night so that Ilya Bryzgalov could be fresh for this one. Bryz has returned to form lately allowing  less rebounds and controlling the puck much more efficiently.

Auld has played fairly well behind a Dallas team that hasn't done all that well defensively allowing 3.01 Goals per game for 25th in the NHL. His Save percentage isn't all that impressive, but he's managed to win when the Stars have called on him.

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