Arizona Coyotes (17-13-2) at Colorado Avalanche (20-11-2)
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Starting Time: 7 p.m. MST at Ball Arena in Denver, CO
Heading to Denver, the Arizona Coyotes have a four-game winning streak on the line tonight as they confront the Colorado Avalanche for a second time this season.
On Nov. 30, both these squads battled in an evenly-matched contest before ‘Yotes center Nick Bjugstad scored with just 0:21 left in overtime to win 4-3.
Arizona were able to withstand the speed that Colorado possesses and punish the Avalanche on the counterattack.
Recently, the Desert Dogs are on the best run of games out of any team in the NHL as they added another game to the win column in California.
Thanks to a three-goal second period, Coyotes center Alex Kerfoot and left wing Clayton both having a goal and two assists each, they were able to defeat the San Jose Sharks on Thursday 5-2.
That marked four wins in a row for Arizona as they will go up against the Avalanche who have been inconsistent recently.
Colorado remain third in the Central Division and are 4-4 in their last eight games.
After falling 3-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Avs found themselves down in a 4-1 hole against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 21.
Then, Colorado stars Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen carried their squad with five-consecutive goals between the two to pull off a 6-4 comeback win over Ottawa. MacKinnon had four goals vs. the Senators.
As it stands, MacKinnon is second in the NHL in points this season (53), Rantanen sits in seventh (42) and defenseman Cale Makar has collected 39 which is the second-best amongst defensemen.
Additionally, Colorado are second in the league in terms of goals scored with 120 and average goals-per-game (3.64).
Not only are they elite offensively, but their penalty kill is erasing 83.8% of their opponent’s power plays, the sixth-highest in the NHL.
In a clash of Central Division foes, this game is on tap to be an offensively engulfed night and the defenses are in for a rude awakening.
Stat Leaders
Goals
- Coyotes – LW Michael Carcone & Lawson Crouse: 14
- Avalanche – C Nathan MacKinnon: 18
Assists
- Coyotes – LW Clayton Keller: 18
- Avalanche – C Nathan MacKinnon: 35
Points
- Coyotes – LW Clayton Keller: 30 (12 goals, 18 assists)
- Avalanche – C Nathan MacKinnon: 53 (18 goals, 35 assists)
Injuries
Arizona Coyotes:
- C Barrett Hayton (upper body – IR)
- D Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body – IR)
- C Travis Boyd (upper body – IR)
Colorado Avalanche:Â
- D Samuel Girard (personal – IR)
- G Pavel Francouz (groin – IR)
- LW Artturi Lehkonen (neck – IR)
- F Andrew Cogliano (undisclosed)
Coyotes beat Sharks 5-2, extend winning streak to four games
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Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
