The Ducks are undefeated in three meetings so far this season with Arizona and they will try to keep it that way when Anaheim travel to the desert later tonight. Anaheim is 4-1 in its last five games in the Coyotes’ lair.
In the last showdown between the two teams, Arizona cracked the Coyotes with a 3-0 road victory. Goalie Jonathan Bernier starred for the Ducks in that game, as he stopped all of Arizona’s 26 shots on goal for his first shutout of the season. Whether it’ll be Bernier or John Gibson in front of the net later tonight, the Ducks should be able to slow down Arizona’s offense that is already one of the weakest in the league. The Coyotes are 28th in the NHL in goals against per game and last overall in shot attempts percentage on 5-on-5 situations per NHL.com’s enhanced stats.
Gibson has been stellar in two starts this season against the Coyotes, earning a 2-0 record with a 1.45 GAA and .933 SV%.
The Coyotes are wallowing in the bottom of the Pacific division standings with just 47 points. But though the playoffs is virtually out of the picture for the team, Arizona shouldn’t be short of motivation in tonight’s game against the Ducks, whom the Coyotes have failed to defeat in three meetings this season.
Arizona is coming off a 4-1 loss to San Jose on Saturday, which was a quite a bummer considering the Coyotes showed up to work in a previous 5-3 upset win over LA last Thursday.
Arizona’s been a tricky underdog team to bet against lately, especially with the team’s offense showing it is capable of exploding any time even against top competition. Just take for example the aforementioned road win over LA and a recent 4-3 overtime victory versus title contender Pittsburgh on Feb. 11.
Forward Christian Dvorak has come out strong this month, as he is leading the team in February with five goals and three assists. Center Martin Hanzal also has five goals in seven games this month.
The over is 3-1 in Arizona’s last four home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Arizona (+125) trips up Anaheim with a 4-3 victory.
