GDT Game 24: Coyotes host rival Kings for matinee showdown

Game Preview

On Thursday the Arizona Coyotes were playing a Toronto Maple Leafs team that was playing their first game under a new head coach. You knew that the Maple Leafs were going to go hard to impress Sheldon Keefe, and they did. The Coyotes didn’t have much to counter the Leafs and lost 3-1.

The loss would feature a few things consistent issues that the Coyotes will be looking to address. They allowed goals in both the last and first minute of the period with Tyson Barrie scoring at 19:14 in the first and Auston Matthews scoring at 0:48 of the third. The power play was again ineffective, not only failing to convert but allowing Pierre Engvall to get his first goal unassisted. The best that you can say is that they didn’t quit on the game, with Vinnie Hinostroza scoring with just 17 seconds left in the game.

Luckily, the Coyotes have a perfect opportunity for a bounce-back game. They get a second game in a week against the worst team in the Pacific Division, a team they beat 3-0 not even a week ago.

Arizona shouldn’t underestimate the Kings this afternoon though. While the Coyotes were losing 3-1 to the Leafs, the Kings were beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1. The Oilers are currently leading the Pacific, and the Kings were able to hold them to a single goal, despite allowing the 6th most goals in the NHL.

Players to Watch

Arizona: Christian Dvorak - Dvorak has three assists in his past two games, and had two assists against the Kings. He is fifth in points on the team with 12 points.

Los Angeles: Tyler Toffoli - Toffoli had two goals and an assist on Thursday, including a goal on the power play. He is third on the Kings in both goals and assists.

Injuries

Arizona: Micheal Grabner (questionable, undisclosed), Niklas Hjalmarsson (leg)

Los Angeles: Trevor Lewis (lower body)

Puck Drop

Tonight’s matinee game will be at 2:00 pm Arizona time and will air on Fox Sports Arizona Plus and Fox Sports 910 AM.