Game Preview
It has been four games since the All-Star Break ended, and the Arizona Coyotes are still looking for a win. The Desert Dogs haven’t won a game since January 22nd, a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Coyotes’ most recent loss was a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday. Like many recently, it was a loss that started with the Desert Dogs giving up a power play goal.
The Wild had five power plays against the Coyotes, which is on par for them this season. The first power play the Wild had saw them make it 1-0, and the two four minutes of power play time they had in the final frame didn’t help the Coyotes tie the game.
If the Coyotes were hoping for an easy opponent to break the losing streak, they aren’t getting it tonight. The Hurricanes are tied for second in the Metropolitan Division with 65 points in 52 games.
Despite their spot in the standings, the Hurricanes have been in a bit of a slump since the All-Star Break. They are 2-2-0, with losses to the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars. One of their wins was a 1-0 overtime win, which is about as close a game as possible.
That isn’t to say it will be a good matchup for the Coyotes. The Canucks, Stars, and Devils are all better teams than the Coyotes, and the Hurricanes also beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-2.
If there is one reason for hope tonight, it may be that the Hurricanes overlook them tonight. Carolina is playing in the first game of a back-to-back, with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights tomorrow. Vegas is clearly the better team, and there is a chance that the Hurricanes will focus on the future to the detriment of the present.
The Coyotes and Hurricanes played each other before the All-Star break, a game that the Canes won 3-1. Things started well for the Coyotes, with Logan Cooley getting a goal late in the first period. But a power play goal in the second period tied it up, and then, the Hurricanes scored two last-minute goals in the final frame.
Arizona needs to play a simplified game, and they absolutely need to stay out of the box tonight. Best case scenario, this will be a tight game, and a single power play goal can make a significant difference tonight.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Logan Cooley – Cooley scored the Coyotes’ lone goal against the Wild and previously scored the lone goal against the Hurricanes.
Carolina: Jesper Fast – Fast had one of the Hurricanes’ two goals in their last match against the Stars. He also had a goal the last time these teams played.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Boyd (pectoral), Connor Ingram (undisclosed), Liam O’Brien (upper body), Troy Stecher (lower body)
Carolina: Frederik Andersen (blood clots), Antti Raanta (lower body)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be in Arizona and will air at 7:00 p.m. Arizona time. It will air on Scripps.