{coyotes} COYOTES (10-8-1) at JETS (9-9-2)

Friday 20 November 2015

{coyotes} COYOTES (10-8-1) at JETS (9-9-2)

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Saturday, November 21, 2015

7:00 PM ET

COYOTES (10-8-1) at JETS (9-9-2)

TV: SN, FS-A

Season series: The Winnipeg Jets won two of three games against the Arizona Coyotes in 2014-15, including a 4-3 shootout victory at MTS Centre on Jan. 18. Captain Shane Doan led Arizona with six points (one goal). Bryan Little scored three goals for Winnipeg.

Coyotes team scope: Coach Dave Tippett has not said whether goaltender Mike Smith or Anders Lindback will start, according to the Arizona Republic. Smith, who made 31 saves in a 3-2 win at the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday, was among a number of players who did not practice Friday. "We'll decide in the morning," Tippett said. Defenseman Nicklas Grossmann (lower body) is doubtful; forwards Steve Downie (upper body) and Joe Vitale (broken orbital bone) remain out. Arizona is 1-2-0 entering the finale of a four-game road trip; six of the Coyotes' past seven games have been on the road (4-2-0). Center Martin Hanzal has four goals in his past five games. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has a career-high seven-game point streak (three goals, four assists). Arizona is off until Nov. 25 when a three-game homestand begins.

Jets team scope: Leading scorer Blake Wheeler left practice Friday after being struck in the side of the head by a shot from defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, according to the Jets website. Coach Paul Maurice did not have an immediate update on Wheeler's status. "He got off the ice under his own power, and he was coherent," Maurice said. A further update is expected at the morning skate. Maurice did not say whether goaltender Ondrej Pavelec or Michael Hutchinson will start the middle game of a three-game homestand. Winnipeg has no reported injuries but does not have a full roster after assigning forward Nic Petan to Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Thursday.