Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes are back home after a three-game road trip that saw them go 0-3-0. The Coyotes have a chance to get back in the win column tonight and regain a Wild Card spot with the first game of a back-to-back.
The Coyotes played better as the road trip went along but still failed to capitalize on crucial opportunities that cost them the game. Maybe it is the schedule, three games in four days on the road can be rough, or maybe the Coyotes’ many injuries are catching up with them.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like things will get any better on the injury front. PHNX’s Craig Morgan tweeted out that not only is defenseman Sean Durzi not likely to play, but forward Nick Schmaltz has also been hurt and is a game-time decision. Schmaltz is third on the team with 20 points, and if he is out long-term, the Coyotes’ offense will be hurt more than it already is.
Thankfully, it isn’t all bad because it looks like Jack McBain is ready to go. McBain hasn’t played since November 9th, and his return should at least partially help an injury-ravaged group.
Thankfully, the Coyotes will get a chance against another weak opponent tonight. The Sharks are second to last in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Anaheim Ducks having played one more game. But they won their last game and are 6-2-2 in their previous ten games, so the Coyotes probably shouldn’t expect an easy matchup.
San Jose is definitely struggling this season in pretty much all areas. They are dead last in goals scored and goals allowed. Their 19th-ranked power play is better than you might expect, but their 29th-ranked penalty kill is not.
Being the worst in goals scored and goals allowed, it is no surprise that a lot of people are struggling on the Sharks. Tomáš Hertl leads the shiver with nine goals and 15, and Mikael Granlund has a respectable 19 points in 22 games, but nobody has really taken over.
While this should be an easy game on paper for the Coyotes, there isn’t much difference from the last two games the Yotes played. Both the Sabres and Penguins are pretty bad teams, and both found a way to beat the Coyotes.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Matias Maccelli – Maccelli recorded his fifth goal of the season against the Penguins and is currently second in points on the Coyotes. He has a four-game point streak heading into tonight’s game.
San Jose: Mikael Granlund – Since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Granlund has been second in scoring for the Sharks while playing a lot of minutes. He comes into tonight’s game riding a six-game point streak.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Boyd (upper body), Sean Durzi (lower body), Barrett Hayton (upper body), Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body), Nick Schmaltz (questionable, unknown)
San Jose: Matt Benning (lower body), Ryan Carpenter (undisclosed), Logan Couture (lower body), Ty Emberson (lower body), Oskar Lindblom (lower body), Mitchell Russell (undisclosed), Nico Sturm (mid-body), Marc-Édouard Vlasic (personal)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be in Arizona, will start at 7:00 p.m., and will air on Scripps.