Ottawa @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 22, 2019 ) Arizona 3, Ottawa 2

The Arizona Coyotes have been among the league's top defensive clubs during the first two weeks of the season and now their offense is showing signs of life during a four-game point streak. After scoring nine times in back-to-back victories, the Coyotes hope the offense keeps producing when they seek their third straight win Saturday versus the visiting Ottawa Senators.

Arizona's three losses have come by one goal each and its only setback during the current 3-0-1 run was a 3-2 defeat at then-unbeaten Colorado. “We could have won them all. We’ve played well," said forward Phil Kessel, who scored twice in Thursday's 5-2 win over Nashville. "If we keep building I think we’ll be a real tough team this year. Guys are confident." The Senators have only one win -- over reigning Presidents' Trophy winner Tampa Bay -- and opened a three-game road trip with a 3-2 shootout loss at Vegas. "We got one point, but everyone likes to win, and I think everyone wanted to have that extra point and get two points instead of one," goaltender Anders Nilsson said.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TVA, Sportsnet360, CITY (Ottawa), FS Arizona, FS Arizona-Plus

ABOUT THE SENATORS (1-4-1): Defenseman Thomas Chabot, the former first-round pick who established career highs with 14 goals, 41 assists and 55 points last season, notched his first goal at Vegas while logging a whopping 28 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time. “It felt good to get that out of the way and now I can just focus on keeping improving, keep on trying to help team have success,” Chabot said. Center Artem Anisimov, who sat out the past two games due to a lower-body injury, skated on the fourth line Friday alongside Bobby Ryan and Scott Sabourin.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (3-2-1): Kessel, the marquee offseason acquisition from Pittsburgh, has scored 20 goals in 11 straight seasons but netted his first two for Arizona with a pair of power-play tallies Thursday night. "It feels nice to get one, and hopefully they start coming," Kessel said. "I've had a bunch of chances, our line's had a bunch of chances and eventually they go in." Netminder Darcy Kuemper set a franchise record by not allowing more than two goals for 12 consecutive game dating to last season, but Antti Raanta will get the nod Saturday.

OVERTIME

1. Coyotes F Nick Schmaltz has three goals and four assists during a four-game point streak.

2. Ottawa is the only team without a power-play goal, failing on all 21 chances.

3. Arizona has won four straight in the series, allowing a combined six goals.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 4, Senators 2