Game Preview
After a week and a half on the road, the Arizona Coyotes are back at Mullett Arena. Arizona went 2-2-1 on the road trip and will return home to host the Los Angeles Kings tonight.
The Coyotes have already played the Kings twice in October, and things did not go well for them. And it is unlikely things will be any easier tonight as the Coyotes deal with injuries to key players.
Matias Maccelli didn’t miss a game despite losing some teeth, but other players are not so lucky. Top-line center Barrett Hayton is out for a few weeks, just when he was getting hot, and the Coyotes are also dealing with injuries to Jack McBain and Juuso Välimäki. McBain and Hayton get significant time short-handed, and Hayton is a big part of the power play, so the team is going to feel their loss.
We saw that in the Coyotes’ last game against the Winnipeg Jets. Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz were mostly kept off the scoresheet, the power play failed to convert, and the team seemed to lose all energy in the second half. Adjusting to different line combinations and defensive pairings will not be a quick and easy process.
The Kings have had an impressive run since facing off against the Coyotes. They are 6-1-2 through nine games, with their only regulation loss being a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this month.
Despite the stellar record, they still aren’t at the top of their division. The Vegas Golden Knights and Vancouver Canucks both have more points than them, although both have more games played.
The Kings have a nice mix of veterans and younger players leading the way. Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, and Anze Kopitar are expected names at the top of the Kings, but 21-year-old Quinton Byfield is fourth on the Kings in total points.
The Kings were a tough match for the Coyotes when they were healthy, but with injuries, everyone will need to play their best hockey. The Kings are tied for third in goals scored this season (63), and are fourth in goals allowed (42). Their power play is 15th (20.6%), but their penalty kill is the second best (89.1%). Honestly, the best hope for the Coyotes is that their goaltender stands on his head tonight.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Matias Maccelli – Maccelli recorded his third goal against the Winnipeg Jets and comes into tonight’s game with 12 points in 17 games. He had a goal and an assist in the two games against the Kings last month.
Los Angeles: Adrian Kempe – Kempe had a goal and an assist against the St. Louis Blues on the 18th and comes into tonight’s match with 18 points in 16 games. He had a goal and three assists in the two games against the Coyotes.
Injuries
Arizona: Juuso Välimäki, Jack McBain, Barrett Hayton
Los Angeles: Viktor Arvidsson
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at 7:00 p.m. Arizona time at Mullett Arena and will air on Scripps.