{coyotes} DUCKS (23-8-5) at COYOTES (12-18-4)

Friday, 26 December 2014

{coyotes} DUCKS (23-8-5) at COYOTES (12-18-4)

Paul Newman / Posters / Reese Witherspoon

Saturday, December 27, 2014

8:00 PM ET

DUCKS (23-8-5) at COYOTES (12-18-4)

TV: PRIME, FS-A

Season series: Goals from Kyle Palmieri and Patrick Maroon, and two assists from Ryan Kesler, led the Anaheim Ducks to a 2-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 23. The Coyotes got second-period goals from Rob Klinkhammer and Shane Doan 58 seconds apart, and 37 saves from goalie Mike Smith, for a 3-2 shootout victory on Nov. 7.

Ducks team scope: Anaheim returns from the Christmas break having won nine of its past 11 games. The Ducks' 51 points lead the NHL, and their 23 wins are tied with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders for most in the League. A 3-2 overtime victory Monday against the San Jose Sharks increased their Ducks' lead in the Pacific Division to eight points over San Jose and improved their record in one-goal games to 17-0-5. Forward Ryan Getzlaf had two assists Monday and is on a six-game point streak (4-6-10). Goalie Frederik Andersen's 19 wins are tied for second in the League. Anaheim could be without forward Tim Jackman, who left the game Monday after a hit by Sharks forward John Scott and was under evaluation, according to the Orange County Register.

Coyotes team scope: Led by forward Sam Gagner's two goals and two assists, the Coyotes salvaged a three-game road trip with a 5-1 win Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. Arizona won for the third time in 13 games (3-9-1) and is next-to-last in the Pacific Division. "Obviously the year hasn't gone the way we had hoped," Gagner told the Arizona Republic. "But the only thing you can control is what's ahead of us and that's gotta be our focus going forward." Coyotes coach Dave Tippett reunited Gagner with center Martin Hanzal and wing Martin Erat, and the trio combined for nine points against the Oilers. "Just scrambling around, looking for something," Tippett said, according to the Arizona Republic. Forward Lauri Korpikoski (lower body) has missed the past four games. Defenseman Chris Summers (upper body) is day-to-day.

Follow Jon Lane on Twitter: @JonLaneNHL

Team Stats