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Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes got another much needed win on Tuesday when they beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 in the shootout. The win gives the Coyotes another two points, putting them just three points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the final Wild Card spot. The Coyotes have won their last four games, although it should be noted two wins came in the shootout and one was in overtime.
Arizona’s win against the Panthers was definitely a nail biter. Arizona did manage to score first with Derek Stepan getting his twelfth of the season in the second period. And while Mike Hoffman did tie it up six minutes later, Oliver Ekman-Larsson would score on the power play with less than a minute in the period to give Arizona a 2-1 leading going into the third.
Unfortunately Jamie McGinn and Aleksander Barkov would score in the third giving Florida a 3-2 league. Luckily the penalty kill stepped up again, and Stepan scored his second of the night short handed. Arizona would then take it in the shootout, with Nick Cousins, Alex Galchenyuk, and Vinnie Hinostroza scoring.
Vancouver played last night in Colorado and they took the Avalanche to the shootout. It took until the sixth round before the game would be decided, with Carl Soderberg winning the game for the Avalanche. With the shootout loss they do get a point though, and along with the Chicago Blackhawks they are just two points behind the Coyotes.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Derek Stepan - With two goals against the Panthers Stepan is just one goal behind his total goals last season.
Vancouver: Josh Leivo - Leivo has a goal and an assist in his last two games and twelve total goals on the season.
Injuries
Arizona: Kyle Capobianco (lower body), Nick Schmaltz (lower body), Michael Grabner (eye), Antti Raanta (lower body), Jason Demers (knee)
Vancouver: Adam Gaudette (questionable, illness) Christopher Tanev (ankle), Jake Virtanen (ribs), Brandon Sutter (groin), Sven Baertschi (concussion), Alexander Edler (concussion)