Game Preview
The Arizona Coyotes’ homestand ends tonight with a match against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Coyotes fell 2-1 to the Vancouver Canucks in their last game and are running out of chances to put on a show for the home crowd this season.
While the game may not have ended the way the Coyotes would have hoped, it wasn’t a complete loss. The Canucks are one of the top teams in the NHL this season, and the Coyotes did a good job of keeping the game close.
That isn’t to say that there aren’t things to critique. The Coyotes were the more rested team when you consider the Canucks played the night before, but Vancouver still found a way to come out swinging. Vancouver also got on the board first with a power play goal, and discipline has been a big problem all season.
The Vegas Golden Knights seem like a lock to make the playoffs, although their position is yet to be determined. They have 92 points in 75 games, and while they are currently third in the Pacific Division, they could easily finish second or as a Wild Card team.
But Vegas is doing everything right to finish in a strong position. They are 7-2-1 in their last ten games and have won their previous three. That includes a seven-game point streak, including wins over top teams like the Jets and Canucks.
The Golden Knights aren’t getting surprised by competitive bad or middle-of-the-pack teams, either. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, one of the worst teams in the NHL, and the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues. Either way, they don’t seem likely to lose a clear trap game.
Vegas last played on Tuesday when they hosted the Vancouver Canucks, a game they won 6-3. They should be well-rested and won’t play again until Monday.
Players to Watch
Arizona: Dylan Guenther – Guenther had the Coyotes’ lone goal against the Vancouver Canucks and has 13 goals in 38 games this season. He will likely be headed back to Tucson after the Yotes season is over to get some playoff experience, but he has proved he is ready to be a full-time NHLer.
Vegas: Jonathan Marchessault – Marchessault hit the 40-goal plateau for the first time this season and comes into tonight’s game with four points in his last two games. He has a goal against the Coyotes this season.
Injuries
Arizona: Travis Boyd (pectoral), Barrett Hayton (lower body)
Vegas: William Carrier (upper body), Tomáš Hertl (lower body), Adin Hill (lower body), Robin Lehner (hip), Nicolas Roy (undisclosed), Mark Stone (upper body)
Puck Drop
Tonight’s game will be at Mullett Arena and will start at 7:00 p.m. Arizona time.