Game Preview
After a disastrous five-game homestand, the Arizona Coyotes are back on the road for three games. Hopefully, This will give them a chance to reset and simplify their game and return to their winning ways.
The Coyotes’ five-game homestand was a disaster, with the Yotes going 1-4-0. And while for most of the series, you could use the excuse that the Coyotes were playing some of the top teams in the NHL, that reasoning collapsed in their final game, a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Arizona gave up four goals to the Flames in the first period, including a short-handed goal. If the Coyotes had converted on that power play, they would have tied the game, but instead, they fell into a deeper hole. It also gave the Flames momentum, and they scored shortly after the penalty expired.
The Coyotes have flirted with a playoff spot all season, but their inconsistency has been a serious issue. With 42 games left, the Desert Dogs will hope their competition has just as many consistency issues as they do, which is not ideal.
Tonight, the Coyotes will play one of the teams below, the Minnesota Wild. The seventh-placed Minnesota Wild have 39 points in 41 games and come into tonight’s matchup having dropped their last three contests. They also haven’t won a game in regulation since December 27th.
Minnesota comes into tonight’s game after losing 4-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers last night in overtime. It was a rough defeat that saw the Wild go from leading 3-1 to giving up two goals in a minute and 25 seconds before falling to the Flyers in OT on a power play goal.
On paper, this matchup should be an easy win for the Yotes. The Coyotes have the better power play, the better penalty kill, score more goals, and give up fewer. Arizona even has a slight edge in the faceoff circle, despite both teams having abmisal faceoff stats.
The Wild will even be playing without their best player, Kirill Kaprizov. Kaprizov was injured in a game against the Jets, a game that is more famous at this point for the allegations that Ryan Hartman intentionally high-sticked Cole Perfetti in retaliation. Hartman, who was not suspended for the play, has responded to the incident, which you can read here.
But despite the Coyotes seeming to have the edge tonight, things usually aren’t that easy. The Coyotes are struggling in all areas of their game and need to give it their all tonight.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Clayton Keller – Keller scored one of the Coyotes’ two goals against the Flames and had a goal in their last win against the Boston Bruins. The Coyotes desperately need Keller to play his best hockey as we approach the second half of the season.
Minnesota: Ryan Hartman – Hartman had a goal and an assist in the Wild’s last game and comes into tonight’s matchup riding a two-game goal streak.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Boyd (pectoral), Barrett Hayton (upper body), Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body)
Minnesota: Caedan Bankier (Achilles), Jonas Brodin (upper body), Filip Gustavsson (lower body), Sam Hentges (undisclosed), Kirill Kaprizov (upper body), Vinni Lettieri (lower body), Jared Spurgeon (lower body)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be in Minnesota with a 6:00 p.m. start time. The game will air on Scripps.