Arizona Coyotes (18-14-2) at Florida Panthers (22-12-2)
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Starting Time: 7 p.m. MST at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ
To kickstart 2024, the Arizona Coyotes open up a five-game homestand beginning with an intense showdown against the Florida Panthers tonight.
Previously, the Coyotes took a trip to California and came out with a 2-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks this past Friday.
Connor Ingram posted his fifth shutout of his NHL career by saving all 28 shots Anaheim fired at him.
Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse both scored for Arizona, and their defense diminished any serious threat that came Ingram’s way. Crouse is the team leader in goals this season, totaling 16.
Pairing the recent play of their goaltending along with their stout defensive structure, the Coyotes are ranked 10th-best in goals against throughout the NHL with 99.
Fresh off a complete victory in SoCal, the ‘Yotes are bringing a two-game winning streak back into Mullett Arena, a place where they are a resounding 12-5 on the year.
Coming into the Valley of the Sun, however, the Panthers arrive on a mission to disrupt the hype surrounding the Coyotes while also continuing their own recent tear as of late.
Florida Notes
Winners in their last four games, Florida has not skipped a beat since going all the way to the 2022-23 Stanley Cup Finals.
After losing 4-2 in a six-game series to the champions, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Panthers got their revenge by conquering the “VGK” 4-2 on Dec. 23.
Florida would then defeat instate rivals in the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2, the best team in the league at the moment, the New York Rangers, 4-3 and the Montreal Canadiens 4-1.
Even though they are second in the Atlantic Division, the Panthers are the ninth-lowest scoring team in the league with 107.
Similarly to the Coyotes, Florida relies on their defensive and goaltending cores as well to get results.
The Panthers have only given up 92 goals this season, the eighth-best and per game, they are third in the NHL (2.56).
Off to a scorching start, Sam Reinhart is the fifth-highest goal scorer league-wide (23) and is tied for 10th in overall points with 44.
Former Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson makes his first appearance as a Panther in Tempe.
So far this season, “OEL” has a stat line of seven goals, 11 assists, a plus/minus rating of -2 and 19:48 average time-on-ice in 36 games.
In a battle of two teams looking to continue their runs of success, only one will come out victorious while the other will see their streak snapped.
History
Last year, Arizona and Florida split a two-game season series 1-1.
On Nov. 3, 2022, Keller recorded a goal and an assist as the Coyotes spoiled Florida’s first-ever trip to Mullett Arena, winning 3-1.
Then, Scottsdale native Matthew Tkachuk would then score a hat trick and pick up an assist in a 5-3 Panthers victory over the Coyotes on Jan. 3, 2023 in Florida.
Injuries
Arizona Coyotes: C Barrett Hayton (upper body – IR), D Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body – IR), C Travis Boyd (upper body – IR)
Florida Panthers: N/A
Connor Ingram records 28-save shutout, Coyotes blank Ducks 2-0
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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
