{coyotes} COYOTES (18-16-3) at OILERS (15-21-3)

Friday, 1 January 2016

{coyotes} COYOTES (18-16-3) at OILERS (15-21-3)

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Saturday, January 2, 2016

4:00 PM ET

COYOTES (18-16-3) at OILERS (15-21-3)

TV: SNW

Season series: The Arizona Coyotes defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4-1 at Gila River Arena on Nov. 12. Arizona forward Max Domi had a goal and an assist; he set up the game-winning goal by Shane Doan in the second period. Taylor Hall scored for Edmonton.

Coyotes team scope: Goalie Louis Domingue is likely to make his seventh start in eight games, coach Dave Tippett told the Arizona Republic. Forwards Martin Hanzal (lower body) and Boyd Gordon (upper body) will travel on the road trip but likely won't play Saturday. Gordon hopes to play against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday. Hanzal and Gordon each participated in an optional practice Friday. Injured goalie Mike Smith (core) briefly skated in sweats on his own. "He's a long way off," Tippett said. The Coyotes have gone 4-1-1 in their past six games and begin a three-game trip through Western Canada. They defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4-2 at home Thursday, when Doan scored his 380th NHL goal to set the Winnipeg/Arizona record, one more than Dale Hawerchuk. Doan has nine goals in his past 10 games.

Oilers team scope: Goalie Cam Talbot is likely to start, coach Todd McLellan said. Talbot made 34 saves in a 1-0 home loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Forward Rob Klinkhammer (ankle) is expected to return; he hasn't played since Dec. 15 and practiced on the fourth line Friday. Injured forward Connor McDavid skated with teammates Friday for the first time since he fractured his left clavicle on Nov. 3. He said his recovery is on schedule but no return date has been set. "There is still a process that I have to go through," McDavid said. "Today was the first step, being on the ice with the guys and I just kind of go from there. We'll see how fast that moves along." Forward Nail Yakupov (ankle) also participated in practice for the first time since his injury occurred Nov. 25. McLellan said defenseman Oscar Klefbom, out since Dec. 11, has upper- and lower-body injuries and likely is out long-term. Edmonton has lost seven of its past eight games (1-6-1).