Arizona Coyotes (17-14-2) at Colorado Avalanche (21-11-2)
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Starting Time: 7 p.m. MST at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ
The Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche face-off tonight after having a pre-Christmas gathering in Denver just four days ago.
Carrying a four-game winning streak to the “Mile High City,” Arizona were left empty-handed as they suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Avs this past Saturday.
Despite the latter half of the first period in which they produced multiple Grade-A scoring chances, the Coyotes were unable to capitalize after Bowen Byram scored for Colorado.
The Avalanche responded in the second with an offensive barrage, rattling off three goals to turn the game on its head.
Alex Kerfoot would deflect a shot from Michael Carcone to make it 4-1, but the Avs defensive structure and poise mitigated any possibility of the ‘Yotes taking control from the initial intermission and onwards.
However, Arizona does return to Mullett Arena tonight, a place they have seen success this season holding a 11-5 record and are 3-0 in their last three games in the valley.
Additionally, Tempe is the same stomping grounds that saw the Desert Dogs fight their way to a 4-3 victory over Colorado on Nov. 30.
However, Colorado will get a second chance to right that wrong by spoiling the party.
Currently, the Avalanche and Dallas Stars both are at the summit of the Central Division with 44 points while the Winnipeg Jets are just one point behind (43).
With the competition heating up at the top, Colorado will lean on stars Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar this evening.
For MacKinnon especially, he is on a red-hot, 18-game point streak with 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points during this span.
With two division rivals seeing each other for a second time in less than a week, both teams know each other’s tendencies and will attempt to exploit them to come out victorious.
Stat Leaders
Goals
- Coyotes – LW Michael Carcone & Lawson Crouse: T-14
- Avalanche – C Nathan MacKinnon: 18
Assists
- Coyotes – LW Clayton Keller: 18
- Avalanche – C Nathan MacKinnon: 36
Points
- Coyotes – LW Clayton Keller: 30 (12 goals, 18 assists)
- Avalanche – C Nathan MacKinnon: 54 (18 goals, 36 assists)
Injuries
Arizona Coyotes:
- C Barrett Hayton (upper body – IR)
- D Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body – IR)
- C Travis Boyd (upper body – IR)
- D J.J Moser (upper body – OUT)
Colorado Avalanche:Â
- D Samuel Girard (personal – IR)
- G Pavel Francouz (groin – IR)
- LW Artturi Lehkonen (neck – IR)
Coyotes prospect’s Maveric Lamoureux, Connor Geekie shine in Canada’s 5-2 win over Finland
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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
