Arizona Coyotes (23-20-3) at Tampa Lightning (25-18-5)
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Starting Time/Venue: 5 p.m. MST at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, FL
The Arizona Coyotes will complete the second half of a back-to-back in Florida as they face the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight.
Last night, the Coyotes were unable to get a grip of the game against the Florida Panthers, suffering a 6-2 defeat. Matthew Tkachuk had two goals and an assist for the Panthers.
Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther got on the scoresheet for the ‘Yotes, but Florida were up 6-0 beforehand.
However, Arizona were victorious in the first time they welcomed the Lightning to Mullett Arena, winning 3-1 on Nov. 28, 2023. Michael Carcone netted a two-goal night in Tempe in the last encounter.
Clayton Keller is on fire lately, recording an assist against the Panthers and increasing his hot streak to 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) in the last nine games.
Someone that is topping not just Keller, but among the very best in the NHL is Nikita Kucherov.
Kucherov is second in both points (80) and assists (49) as well as third in goals (31) in the league. His case for the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) continues to expand as he has 13 points in just his past six games.
As for the rest of the Kucherov’s squad, the Lightning are 6-1 in their last seven games. They are coming off of a dominant, 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in which Kucherov scored a hat trick and added an assist on Tuesday.
Tampa’s high octane offense sees them fifth in goals-for this season with 162 while they possess the No. 1 power play in the NHL, converting at a 30.5% clip.
Will the Coyotes bounce back and complete the regular season sweep over the Lightning or will Tampa continue their dominant streak?
Key Stats
Goals
Coyotes – RW Clayton Keller: 19
Lightning – RW Nikita Kucherov: 31
Assists
Coyotes – LW Matias Maccelli: 25
Lightning – RW Nikita Kucherov: 49
Points
Coyotes – RW Clayton Keller: 43 (19 goals, 24 assists)
Lightning – RW Nikita Kucherov: 80 (31 goals, 49 assists)
Injuries
Arizona Coyotes: C Barrett Hayton (upper body – IR), D Vladislav Kolyachonok (lower body – IR), C Travis Boyd (upper body – IR), D Matt Dumba (upper body – OUT), D Troy Stecher (lower body – IR)
Tampa Bay Lightning: D Haydn Fleury (hand – IR), D Erik Černák (upper body – OUT), LW Austin Watson (lower body – IR), D Mikhail Sergachev (lower body – IR), LW Tanner Jeannot (upper body – IR)
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, exclusive content, and access to our seasonal magazines! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
