Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes are back in action tonight against the St. Louis Blues. After beating three of the last Stanley Cup Champions, the Coyotes will face off against a team that they have struggled against this season.
Arizona has been hot lately and come into tonight’s game with three straight wins. They beat the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0, followed that up with a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, and most recently beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime.
Arizona played extremely well against the Colorado Avalanche. By avoiding too many penalties, the Coyotes were able to keep pace with the Avalanche for a full 60 minutes.
With two points from the win, the Coyotes are up to 24 points, good enough to be fifth in the Central Division and the second Wild Card spot. They are just one point ahead of the Calgary Flames with a game in hand, so they need to make the best of it with a win tonight against the St. Louis Blues.
The Coyotes have had mixed luck against the Blues this season. Arizona’s first road trip ended with them beating the Blues 6-2, but they followed that up with a 2-1 loss in a penalty-filled matchup and a 6-5 loss a week and a half ago.
After beating the Coyotes, the Blues are 2-2-0 with some interesting results. They lost 8-3 to the Nashville Predators and 3-1 to the Minnesota Wild but beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-4 and the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2. The win over the Sabres was their last match, so they should come into tonight’s game with some momentum.
When the Coyotes and Blues met the second time, the Blues had the worst power play in the league. The Blues had seven power plays in the first 40 minutes and couldn’t convert on any of them. Things have slightly improved since then. The Blues have the third-worst power play ahead of the Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, but the Coyotes would be better off not giving them multiple opportunities with the man advantage.
After beating three tough opponents, it may be tempting for the Coyotes to think this will be an easy matchup. They must do everything possible to resist that urge and take the Blues seriously. The Coyotes have scored a few wins this season because their opponents underestimated them, and now is not the time to fall into that trap.
A win tonight would move the Coyotes above the Blues for the top Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. It would also tie the Coyotes with the Jets for third in the Division, although the Jets would have a game in hand. Arizona has a very real chance to move up in the standings, and they can’t spoil that by underestimating a team that is above them in the standings.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Michael Carcone – Carcone had a goal against the Avalanche and has three goals in his last two games. He had a goal and an assist the last time he played the Blues and a goal in the first matchup.
St. Louis: Brayden Schenn – Schenn had two goals and an assist in his last game and comes into tonight’s matchup with 14 points in 22 games. He had a goal the last time the Coyotes and Blues met.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Dermott (upper body), Barrett Hayton (upper body), Jack McBain (lower body)
St. Louis: Josh Jacobs (undisclosed), Anton Malmström (undisclosed)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at Mullett Arena with a 7:00 p.m. start time.