GDT Game 66: Coyotes look to replicate success against Panthers

Game Preview

The Arizona Coyotes went into Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning having lost their last two games. One of those losses was a 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues where the Coyotes were limited to just 14 shots. Against one of the best teams in the league, they would turn things around and beat the Lightning 7-3.

Things did not start well against the Lightning. Less than four minutes into the game Anthony Cirelli would give the Lightning a 1-0 lead. The Coyotes would turn things around though and that would be the last time the Lightning would lead the game.

The Coyotes would get two goals from Conor Garland and Clayton Keller as well as goals from Carl Soderberg, Brad Richardson, and Derek Stepan. Two of the goals would come on the power play, while the Coyotes’ penalty stopped the Lightning from scoring on their one opportunity.

With the win, the Coyotes are tied with the Calgary Flames, with the Flames having two games in hand. The Winnipeg Jets are only one point behind them with a game in hand, and the Nashville Predators are only two points back. The Coyotes could easily move up though, as they are only two points behind the Vancouver Canucks and three points behind the Edmonton Oilers.

Like the Coyotes, the Florida Panthers are also deep in a playoff hunt. They are six points out of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, but they are only two points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs with a game in hand for the third spot in the Atlantic Division. Considering the Leafs just lost to a 42-year-old AHL Zamboni driver serving as an emergency backup they may be able to take that spot.

The Panthers have not had a good month of February. They are 4-8-1 in the month with their only wins coming against the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, New Jersey Devils, and Toronto Maple Leafs. They have lost their last two games against the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights, allowing both their opponents to score 5.

The Panthers made a trade yesterday sending Vincent Trocheck to the Carolina Hurricanes for Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and prospects Chase Priskie and Eetu Loustarinen. Trocheck hasn’t been great this season, and it’s not a stellar return.

Players to Watch

Arizona: Conor Garland - Garland lead the team with four points against the Lightning, a career-high for the young forward.

Florida: Evgenii Dadonov - Dadonov had two points in the Panthers’ last game and leads the team with 25 goals.

Injuries

Arizona: Jakob Chychrun (lower body), Jason Demers (oblique)

Florida: Aleksi Saarela (questionable, upper body), Mike Matheson (questionable, illness), Dryden Hunt (lower body), Brian Boyle (upper body), Chris Driedger (groin)

Puck Drop

Tonight’s game will be at 7:00 pm Arizona time and will air on SNP, SNE, SNO, Fox Sports Arizona, and Fox Sports 910 AM.