Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes are back in action tonight after a surprise win this past Saturday. Arizona met the top team in the Pacific Division, the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and beat the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0, with Connor Ingram earning his first shutout of the season.
It was a tough matchup that required Ingram to stand on his head for much of the game. Arizona finally got on the board in the third period, with Clayton Keller getting his eighth of the season midway through the period. It was the second game with Logan Cooley at center since Barrett Hayton was injured, and the first time the line seemed to click.
Ingram’s success won him a chance to start tonight’s game and may see him get more starts. Coyotes’ head coach André Tourigny has been alternating his netminders this season, so Ingram getting back-to-back starts is a big deal. Given Ingram has been playing well, it makes sense to start the hot hand.
Per PHNX’s Craig Morgan, tonight may see the return of Matt Dumba and Travis Dermott. Dumba missed just the Vegas game, but Travis Dermott hasn’t played since November 7th against the Seattle Kraken.
Surprisingly enough, the Tampa Bay Lightning only have one more win than the Coyotes this season, despite playing one more game. Tampa Bay is 10-7-5 on the season, meaning they are better at pushing games to overtime than the Desert Dogs.
Tampa Bay should come into tonight’s game slightly tired, having played the Colorado Avalanche last night. After beating the Carolina Hurricanes 8-2 last Friday, the Lightning fell 4-1 to the Avalanche.
The Lightning chased the game from the beginning. They gave up the first goal early in the opening frame and allowed the Avalanche to go up 3-0 with two goals in the first four minutes of the second. And despite scoring late in the second period, they couldn’t light the lamp in the third, and an empty netter from the Avalanche sealed their fate.
Despite scoring just one goal last night, the Coyotes shouldn’t expect an easy matchup tonight. The Lightning are third in goals scored with 79, and they have the second-best power play in the league. Tampa Bay is also 30th in goals against, which could mean we are in for a high-scoring affair.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Clayton Keller – Keller had the Coyotes’ game-winning goal against the Golden Knights and comes into tonight’s game riding a two-game point streak.
Tampa Bay: Victor Hedman – Hedman had an assist on the Lightning’s lone goal in their last game and comes into tonight’s game with assists in his previous four games.
Injuries
Arizona: Barrett Hayton (upper body), Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body), Jack McBain (lower body), Juuso Välimäki (face)
Tampa Bay: Logan Brown (undisclosed), Brent Seabrook (hip), Conor Sheary (upper body)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at home and will start at 7:00 p.m. Arizona time. It will air on Scripps.