10:08 pm
December 28

Coyotes @ Golden Knights

Who will WIN this matchup?

Arizona Coyotes (21-14-4)

@ Vegas Golden Knights (20-14-6)

 

Starting Goalies:

Antti Raanta (ARI): Confirmed

Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK): Confirmed

 

Current odds:

Arizona Coyotes: (+120)

Vegas Golden Knights: (-140)

 

• First place in the Pacific Division is on the line when the Arizona Coyotes visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Vegas has allowed 17 goals in its last four games after Friday’s 4-3 loss at Anaheim was its third during that span, leaving it tied with Arizona atop the crowded Pacific with fifth-place Vancouver four points off the pace. Arizona is 6-6-0 in its last 12 games after a 3-2 loss at Nashville on Monday with Antti Raanta making 38 saves as he settles into the No. 1 spot with Darcy Kuemper sidelined indefinitely with a lower-body injury. “We’re going to just stick together,” Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet told reporters. “It’s a tough trip here, a lot of air miles. We’re going to have three days off and get the guys to re-energize.”

• Vegas allowed three goals in a 1:37 span of the second period en route to only its second loss in 10 games versus Anaheim and first at Honda Center since joining the league for the 2017-18 season. The clubs split the first two meetings this season with the Golden Knights prevailing 2-1 in a shootout Nov. 29 and Conor Garland scoring twice in Arizona’s 4-1 victory Oct. 10.

• Clayton Keller has five of his 10 goals in the last six games and 13 of his 29 points in 11 December games after recording an assist Monday. Nick Schmaltz (club-high 30 points) has seven of his 24 assists in the last four games. Raanta (6-6-2, 2.70 goals-against average, .921 save percentage) has split two games since Kuemper went on injured reserve.

• Defenseman Nate Schmidt on Friday snapped a 20-game scoreless streak with his second career two-goal game. Reilly Smith recorded his 200th career assist Friday, giving him 31 points this season. Marc-Andre Fleury (9-7-1, 2.25, .924 versus Arizona) takes the net after Malcolm Subban made 14 saves against Anaheim.

• Coyotes LW Taylor Hall has a goal and two assists in four games since arriving via trade from New Jersey.

• Vegas is struggling with its special teams as it has killed just 16-of-23 penalties in its last six games and is 0-for-8 on the power play in its past five contests.

• Arizona is 13-for-13 on the penalty kill in its last five games

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Vegas Golden Knights
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