Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes’ home stand continues with another trip from an Eastern Conference team. After falling 4-1 to the Florida Panthers, the Coyotes will play the New York Islanders for the second and final time this season.
Arizona did not play well in their first game of the new year. The Panthers were the better team, but they also did a great job getting under the Coyotes’ skin and preventing them from mounting any successful comeback.
If there was a bright spot in the Yotes’ last matchup, it was that they managed to score a rare short-handed goal. Alex Kerfoot registered the Coyotes’ lone goal early in the third period during a Panthers power play, his fifth goal of the season. It isn’t much, but looking at the few bright spots after a loss is essential so you have something to build off.
Unfortunately, after Tuesday’s game, the Coyotes will be missing a player for the next three games. Jason Zucker was suspended for three games for boarding Panthers’ forward Nick Cousins after Cousins delivered a hit to Coyotes’ defenseman Juuso Välimäki. Zucker plays on Logan Cooley’s line, so the Coyotes will need someone to sub in for him for the next three matchups, including tonight.
Tonight’s opponents aren’t as good as the Panthers, but aren’t far off. The Islanders are third in the Metropolitan Division behind the Rangers and the Hurricanes, with 44 points in 37 games.
The Islanders and Coyotes met at the start of the season, with New York winning 1-0. Since then, they have had a solid season and seem poised to make it to the postseason.
But that doesn’t mean the Islanders have been a consistently good team, and the Coyotes may catch them in a bit of a slump. New York is 4-3-3 in their last ten games, including an overtime loss in their previous game and a loss in the game prior. That could mean that the Coyotes are catching them at the right moment, or it could mean that they are going to be extra motivated to sweep the series tonight.
Considering the Islanders beat the Coyotes in a 1-0 shutout in their first match, it may be surprising that they give up a fair amount of goals this season. New York is 21st in goals against per game played, allowing an average of 3.27 goals. They also have one of the worst penalty kills in the NHL, 29th, only killing 72.8% of penalties. Their goals for and power play are close to the Coyotes, so on paper, the Desert Dogs should have a slight edge for tonight’s game.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Lawson Crouse – Crouse had an assist on Kerfoot’s goal and comes into tonight’s game riding a three-game point streak.
New York: Mathew Barzal – Barzal had the Islanders’ lone goal against the Coyotes and an assist in the Islanders’ last game against the Avalanche. He comes into tonight’s game with 37 points in 36 games.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Boyd (pectoral), Barrett Hayton (upper body), Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body)
New York: Robert Bortuzzo (lower body), Adam Pelech (upper body), Ryan Pulock (lower body)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at Mullett Arena and will start at 7:00 p.m. Arizona time. It will air on Scripps.