Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes losing streak continues, with a loss to the Colorado Avalanche last night. It was an extremely tight game, and the Coyotes played very well, but they still left Denver with zero points on their way back to Tempe.
Arizona played a solid game, and they would have probably been proud of their effort in a vaccum. They took the lead twice and played an impressive match against one of the better teams in the NHL. They may have run out of time to tie it up, but it was a close game.
But the Coyotes probably aren’t looking at the game in isolation, Arizona didn’t just drop a close game, they dropped their ninth straight game. And losing nine games in a row is frustrating no matter how close they were.
Fortunately, the Coyotes won’t have long to dwell on last night’s loss because they will be playing an afternoon game. The Coyotes need to shut everything out and get a win today.
While the Coyotes have been losing, the Oilers have played very well. They are 7-3-0 in their last ten games, although they are 3-3-0 since returning from the All-Star break.
At this point, the Oilers seem to be making the post-season, either with one of the top three Pacific Division spots or as a Wild Card team. They have one more point than the fourth-placed Los Angeles Kings despite playing two fewer games, and they have a five-point lead on the top Wild Card team in the Central Division, the St. Louis Blues, having played three fewer games. Barring a major collapse, the Oilers should be a lock.
Today’s game should be the NHL debut for goaltender Matt Villalta. Villalta has impressed in the AHL with a 2.58 goals-against average and .913 save percentage through 34 games which saw him named to the AHL All-Star Game.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Logan Cooley – Cooley scored the Coyotes’ third goal against the Avalanche, his second goal in three games. The Coyotes’ top line is likely going to be busy tonight, so they are going to need secondary scoring from the likes of Cooley.
Edmonton: Evan Bouchard – Bouchard had two goals in the Oiler’s last game, including the eventual game-winning goal. The 24-year-old defenseman has 50 points in 51 games this season.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Boyd (pectoral), Connor Ingram (undisclosed), Liam O’Brien (upper body), Troy Stecher (lower body)
Edmonton: Brady Stonehouse (undisclosed)
Puck Drop
Today will be a matinee matchup for the Coyotes. It will air at 2:00 p.m. Arizona time on Scripps.