Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes continue their gauntlet of opponents that recently won the Stanley Cup. That continues tonight, with the Coyotes facing off against the 2018 Champions, the Washington Capitals.
Arizona didn’t just get lucky in their past four games; they have been playing exceptionally well. They shut out the Vegas Golden Knight 2-0, beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1, won in overtime against the Colorado Avalanche, and most recently beat the St. Louis Blues 4-1.
A few things are clicking for the Coyotes right now. They are scoring goals, taking fewer penalties, and getting outstanding goaltending.
The Coyotes have been hot right now and have been getting offense from up and down the lineup. Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz still got on the board against the Blues, but Alex Kerfoot, Michael Carcone, and Matias Maccelli also lit the lamp. The Coyotes’ top line doesn’t need to generate all the offense this season, there is plenty of secondary scoring to keep the Coyotes in games.
If there is a spectrum of recent Stanley Cup Champions, those who are still dominant versus those who aren’t, the Washington Capitals are in the middle. They are currently in a three-way tie for third in the Metropolitan Division, with two and three games in hand compared to the teams below them.
Washington is 7-3-0 in their last ten games, with wins over the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils. That is a good mix of teams, so the Coyotes should expect a challenging matchup tonight.
Unlike prior years, the Washington Capitals are not a high-scoring team. They have scored the second-fewest goals in the NHL (50), ahead of only the San Jose Sharks. But they are fifth in goals against (59), so they are doing something right.
If the Coyotes decide to spend the game in the penalty box, they may be okay tonight. The Capitals have the worst power play in the NHL, converting only 8.3% of the time. Although, the Coyotes ran into a similar anemic power play when they played the Blues, and they lost that game 2-1.
Despite giving up so few goals, the Capitals’ penalty kill is just okay. They are 14th in the NHL, killing 80.6% of the penalties. Either way, the Coyotes should have the edge when it comes to special teams.
Tonight’s game is a lot like the Coyotes’ last matchup against the Blues. They are facing a team that is relatively on their level that they may have a slight edge against. Arizona needs to come ready to play and play a full 60-minute effort, and they may just get another two minutes in a tight Central Division race. Their next game is at home, and they have two days off, so they might as well go all out tonight.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Alex Kerfoot – Kerfoot has quietly been a great supporting player for the Coyotes this season. He had a goal and two assists in the Coyotes’ last game and comes into tonight’s game with six points in his previous three games.
Washington: Dylan Strome – The former Coyote is fourth on the Capitals in points and had an assist in the Capitals’ last game. He is tied with Tom Wilson with a team-leading eight goals.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Dermott (upper body), Barrett Hayton (upper body), Jack McBain (lower body), Travis Boyd (upper body)
Washington: Nicklas Backstrom (hip), Charlie Lindgren (illness), T.J. Oshie (upper body), Max Pacioretty (Achilles).
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at Mullett Arena and will air on MNMT and Scripps.