{coyotes} COYOTES (13-13-1) at BLUES (15-8-4)

Monday, 7 December 2015

{coyotes} COYOTES (13-13-1) at BLUES (15-8-4)

Amazon.com - Amazon.ca - Wal-Mart - Mr.Beer - GameStop - Match.com - Work From Home

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

8:00 PM ET

COYOTES (13-13-1) at BLUES (15-8-4)

TV: FS-A, FS-MW

Season series: The St. Louis Blues swept three games from the Arizona Coyotes last season and outscoring them 14-2, which included a 6-0 victory at Arizona on Jan. 6 in a game Blues captain David Backes scored four goals. Backes had five goals and an assist in three games, Jaden Schwartz had four goals and an assist, and Alexander Steen had two goals and three assists for St. Louis.

Coyotes team scope: Arizona captain Shane Doan, who is on injured reserve and has missed the past seven games with a lower-body injury, will skate Tuesday before deciding if he will play, according to the Arizona Republic. Forward Viktor Tikhonov will be available after he was claimed off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Tikhonov, who was originally selected by the Coyotes in the first round of the 2008 NHL Draft, had eight goals and 16 points in 61 games during his rookie season in Arizona (2008-09). "When I heard Arizona picked me up it was all joy," Tikhonov told the Coyotes website after practice. "It's going to be a good transition. I was all smiles when I heard." The Coyotes conclude a five-game road trip looking for their first victory; they've been outscored 20-9. Arizona has lost five straight on the road. Goalie Mike Smith is expected to start.

Blues team scope: St. Louis will insert defenseman Petteri Lindbohm, recalled from Chicago of the American Hockey League on Sunday, into the lineup. Lindbohm was expected to make the team out of training camp but was beaten out by rookies Colton Parayko and Joel Edmundson, who was assigned to the Chicago to make room for Lindbohm. "I felt pretty good in the camp," Lindbohm said. "I think I played pretty well; I was OK. Obviously you can always go better." The Blues, who are 0-2-1 their past three games, will move Magnus Paajarvi up to the top line with Paul Stastny and Vladimir Tarasenko. "He's got to look at this as a chance of a lifetime and hopefully he takes advantage of it," coach Ken Hitchcock said. Jake Allen will start in net.