GDT Game 60: Coyotes look to continue point streak

Game Preview

The Arizona Coyotes arrived in Toronto having won their last game against the Montreal Canadiens. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be able to replicate that result against the Toronto Maple Leafs, although they did walk away with a point.

Tuesday’s game featured the Coyotes taking the lead twice. Christian Dvorak would start the scoring early, only to have Zach Hyman tie the game later that period. Carl Soderberg would get his 100th career goal late in the second, only for Hyman to tie it again early in the third period.

Hyman’s early third-period goal would be enough to push to the game to overtime. While it briefly looked like the Coyotes had won the game with an overtime goal from Jakob Chychrun, the play would be reviewed and the goal would be waived off for goaltender interference. The call would prove to be controversial among Coyotes fans, although almost every goaltender interference call is.

The Coyotes’ power play came up short against the Maple Leafs. Arizona had the man advantage three times, including two chances after the Leafs tied the game in the third. Thankfully, the Coyotes’ penalty kill was better, killing off three penalties against the fourth-ranked power play team in the league.

Despite the loss, Adin Hill would prove solid against the Leafs. He made 38 saves on 41 shots, including 6 shots on the penalty kill, earning him the third star of the game. His solid play should give Coyotes fans a sigh of relief that until Darcy Kuemper is healthy Antti Raanta should have a good backup.

Few people expected the Ottawa Senators to be good this season. If not for the sheer black hole that is the Detroit Red Wings they would be at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

The Senators have won only one game since the NHL All-Star Game. Before then they did the Coyotes a favor by beating the Calgary Flames 5-2, their only other win during February.

One of the bright spots for the Senators this season has to be the play of Anthony Duclair. The former-Coyote is tied with Jean-Gabriel Pageau for a team-leading 21 goals and 34 assists. Duclair has struggled for the past few seasons, although he seems to be fitting in well in Canada’s capital.

Players to Watch

Arizona: Christian Dvorak - Dvorak scored his 17th of the season 1:04 into the first period. He has six goals in his last ten games and has been providing much of the Coyotes’ offense late in the season.

Ottawa: Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Pageau had a goal in the last game the Senators scored and is 21-13-34 on the season. This is the first season where he has scored more than 20 goals and he is ten points away from a career-high 44 points.

Injuries

Arizona: Jason Demers (oblique), Barrett Hayton (conditioning), Darcy Kuemper (lower body)

Ottawa: Mark Borowiecki (questionable, personal), Bobby Ryan (personal), Anders Nilsson (concussion)

Puck Drop

Tonight’s game will be at 5:30 pm Arizona time and will air on Fox Sports Arizona and Fox Sports 910 AM.