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The Arizona Coyotes finally snapped their losing streak against the 11-12-4 Nashville Predators and are going to Pittsburgh to play the Penguins, who is one of the hottest teams in the NHL.
Can the Coyotes snap their streak?
View From Arizona
The Coyotes snapped a six game losing skid against the Predators, and played one of their most complete games of the season. The only reason there wasn't a shutout was the tipped in shot by Jakob Chychrun, who owes Mike Smith a steak for that.
The Penguins are a totally different team than the Predators and OEL will be seeing a lot of ice time trying to neutralize Crosby. If the Coyotes can keep the momentum up, they may be able to string some wins together.
Hopefully, while in Pittsburgh, the team will be able to meet with their newly acquired center, Peter Holland, who is still in Canada due to work visa issues. They will also have to link up with Josh Jooris, whom the Coyotes claimed off of waivers from the New York Rangers.
View From Pittsburgh
For more info on the Penguins check out Pensburgh
The Penguins are on a five game winning streak and are 7-3-0 in their past ten games. They are 18-7-3 on the entire season, and they just keep getting better. Sidney Crosby missed six games at the start of the season with a concussion, but has since blasted back to best player in the world status with 20 goals in 26 games.
This isn't the Penguins of last fall/winter. With Mike Sullivan taking over nearly a year ago, the Penguins went from a middle of the pack, struggling team to Stanley Cup Champions.
With players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Phil Kessel, the Penguins are first in the Metro division and second overall in the league. With Matt Murray playing in tandem with Fluery, it is the team to beat at the moment.
Three Questions
1. Will Shane Doan get 400? - Doan had the chance to score his 400th goal with a penalty shot, but shot it into Pekka Rinne's stomach. Could he score 400 against the Penguins? Maybe, it would be nice for him to do it at home, but think of the Ceremony when they come home.
2. Can the kids handle the champs? - The Coyotes are coming into Pittsburgh with more than five rookies and sophomore players in their lineup. Currently the average age of the Coyotes is 25.7 years old. A mature team Penguins team could wreak havoc on the young Coyotes, we'll just have to see.
3. Will the Coyotes be able to kill penalties while on the road? - The Coyotes penalty kill is clicking at over 94% while on home ice, which is ridiculous, but hold the worst PK while on the road. All together they have a PK of 80.9% which is good for 21st in the league. The Coyotes need to be able to kill against the Penguins, who's top power play unit reads like an all-star team.
Players to watch
Arizona - Oliver Ekman-Larsson - OEL will have the most difficult assignments tonight, most likely spending his evening glued to Crosby and/or Malkin. Each time he plays the Penguins he frustrates them because he makes sure they don't have room. OEL lives for games like this.
Pittsburgh - Sidney Crosby - Crosby is the best player in the world, hands down. Love him or hate him, you cannot stop yourself watching him. Since he lost so much of what they call ‘prime' forward years, he is making up for it this season.
As I said before he has 20 goals in 22 games played. Crosby will be the one to keep an eye on and also don't count out his linemate Conor Sheary.
Injury Report
Arizona - Max Domi is on injured reserve for at least a week with a week-to-week upper body injury, coming from the hands of Garnet Hathaway versus the Flames. Questionable is Connor Murphy, who only played four minutes of the first period against the Predators. Craig Morgan reported that Murphy did not join the team on the trip.
Coyotes D Connor Murphy did not accompany the team to start its four-game road trip but could join them later in the trip.
— Craig Morgan (@craigsmorgan) December 11, 2016
Brad Richardson is still out for the foreseeable future with his broken tibia and fibula, but was seen in the Coyotes locker room after last nights win.
Pittsburgh - The Penguins are running at full health, which is rare for them, but Sidney Crosby was pulled off the ice by a concussion spotter on Saturday against Tampa Bay. He seemed fine after returning to the ice, but it is something that could change quickly if there are concussion symptoms.
Puck Drop
Monday's game starts at 5pm Arizona time. You can watch it on Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Go! or Listen to it on ESPN Phoenix 620 AM.