Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes road trip continues tonight with a trip to Columbus. After beating the Nashville Predators and stealing a point against the Dallas Stars, the Coyotes are looking for another two points tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Arizona has played well on their road trip, but they have struggled to be consistent and to take control of games. Their matches against the Predators and Stars both saw the Coyotes briefly take the lead, only to see the other team quickly tie it up.
Another big issue for Coyotes this season has been their penchant for penalties. The Coyotes are second in penalty minutes per game played, averaging just one second less than the number one Anaheim Ducks. Against a team with a poor power play like the Columbus Blue Jackets, that is less of an issue, but it only takes one time for an opponent to score on the power play and change the course of the game.
After facing the top team in the Central Division, the Coyotes meet the bottom team in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets are 4-8-4 through 16 games and are currently two points behind the seventh-placed Islanders, having played an extra game. This means that even if they win tonight, they will still be in last place in the division.
Columbus comes into tonight’s game riding a six-game losing streak that has seen them fall to the Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins. They lost to the Panthers in overtime and the Rangers in the shootout, so they are getting some points, and it should be noted all but the Penguins are currently in a playoff spot.
There isn’t much that the Blue Jackets are doing right this season. They are 22nd in goals scored, 28th in goals allowed, and their power play is 27th, converting only 12.0% of the time. The one bright spot is their penalty kill, which is third in the NHL, killing off 89.4% of their penalties. Given that the Coyotes often rely on their power play for offense, that could be a problem, especially if they fall short.
Arizona needs tonight’s game to be the opposite of last Thursday’s against the Blues. They need to take their opponent seriously and stay disciplined. On paper, this should be an easy win for the Desert Dogs, but that only works if the Coyotes come ready to play and ready to win.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Clayton Keller – Keller had a big goal against the Dallas Stars and comes into tonight’s game riding a four-game point streak. Keller leads the Coyotes with 16 points in 15 games.
Columbus: Alexandre Texier – The 24-year-old center comes into tonight’s game riding a three-game point streak, having scored a goal in the Blue Jackets’ last game against the Penguins. Texier had 11 goals in 36 games last season and could be on his way to his first 20-goal season.
Injuries
Arizona: Juuso Välimäki, Jack McBain
Columbus: Jack Roslovic
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at 5:00 p.m. Arizona time and will air on Scripps.