{coyotes} COYOTES (3-4-1) at PANTHERS (2-2-3)

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

{coyotes} COYOTES (3-4-1) at PANTHERS (2-2-3)

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Thursday, October 30, 2014

7:30 PM ET

COYOTES (3-4-1) at PANTHERS (2-2-3)

TV: FS-A, FS-F

Season series: The Florida Panthers and Arizona Coyotes conclude their season series by facing each other for the second time in six days. Oliver Ekman-Larsson's power-play goal 2:20 into overtime gave the Coyotes a 2-1 win at Gila River Arena on Oct. 25. Since joining the Coyotes in 2011-12, goalie Mike Smith has allowed a single goal in each of his four starts against the Panthers.

Coyotes team scope: A full complement of players was on the ice for practice Wednesday, with the top line of Martin Hanzal, Martin Erat and Rob Klinkhammer back together, according to azcentral.com. Ekman-Larsson and Zbynek Michalek were reunited on defense. Smith would seem the logical starter Thursday given his past success against Florida, but his struggles against the rest of the NHL continued in his most recent start Tuesday. He gave up six goals on 33 shots and was pulled in the third period of a 7-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, when Arizona started a four-game road trip. Smith's goals-against average jumped to 4.29 and his save percentage dropped to .858. The Coyotes team goals-against average of 3.88 was tied for last in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes entering games Wednesday.

Panthers team scope: Center Dave Bolland didn't skate Wednesday and is expected to miss a fourth straight game, according to the Miami Herald. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad is set to play in his eighth NHL game, and general manager Dale Tallon left little doubt in an interview Wednesday with NHL.com that the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft is likely to spend the entire season with Florida. "One of the reasons our defense has been good is because of Aaron's play," Tallon said. "He's played like a real pro. He's been as good a player as we've had and it's been terrific watching him." The Panthers will have had four days off since their loss to the Coyotes, which completed a four-game road trip. "It was a good trip, I think the guys feel real good about themselves," coach Gerard Gallant said. "Now we just have to make sure we take care of business at home for the next couple of games."

Team Stats