{coyotes} COYOTES (18-26-6) at BLUE JACKETS (21-24-3)

Monday 2 February 2015

{coyotes} COYOTES (18-26-6) at BLUE JACKETS (21-24-3)

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

7:00 PM ET

COYOTES (18-26-6) at BLUE JACKETS (21-24-3)

TV: FS-A, FS-O

Season series: Martin Hanzal had the game-winning goal and three assists when the Arizona Coyotes doubled up the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first game. Sam Gagner scored twice for the Coyotes.

Coyotes team scope: This is the finale of an eight-game road trip for Arizona, which is 2-3-2 following a come-from-behind 3-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. The Coyotes held an optional skate Monday. Forward Joe Vitale (upper body) skated on his own, according to the Arizona Republic. Hanzal (upper body) was not with the team and went back to be checked by Coyotes doctors. "It's one of those things with Marty ... one day he could come in and be a lot better," coach Dave Tippett told the paper. Goalie Mike Smith could start after Louis Dominque, a Quebec native, won in his NHL debut at Bell Centre. Forward Lauri Korpikoski scored twice on the power play. Five of his six goals this season have come with the man advantage. Prior to this season, two of Korpikoski's 62 goals came on the power play. Oliver Ekman-Larsson extended his lead among defensemen with his 14th goal of the season. Forward Antoine Vermette won 79.3 percent of his faceoffs (23 of 29). He ranked ninth in the NHL at 56.1 percent entering games Monday.

Blue Jackets team scope: Four of the next five games are on home ice for Columbus, which won its opening game out of the All-Star break at Nationwide Arena before getting swept on a Florida road trip. Forward Brandon Dubinsky didn't practice Monday, according to the Blue Jackets, but coach Todd Richards termed it a maintenance day and said Dubinsky is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday. Forward Matt Calvert, who missed a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, remains ill and unlikely to play. Veteran defenseman Jordan Leopold skated at left wing on the fourth line in Calvert's absence and Richards said he could use Leopold there again. "I've had the great fortune to play a lot of hockey games in my career and I think I understand the responsibilities of that position. So that's the approach I took with it," Leopold, who prior to Saturday had not played since Dec. 13, told the Columbus Dispatch. Forward Brian Gibbons, out since mid-December with a knee injury, has been skating semi-regularly and is day-to-day.

Team Stats