Final Nov 24
UTAH 2 +160 o5.5
TOR 3 -190 u5.5
Minnesota 6th Central35-27-4-3
Arizona 5th Pacific33-29-4-4

Minnesota @ Arizona preview

Gila River Arena

Last Meeting ( Mar 31, 2019 ) Minnesota 0, Arizona 4


The Arizona Coyotes are in the midst of a rugged schedule in November that features nine games in the span of two weeks and includes trips to Western Canada and the East Coast. The Coyotes are more concerned with the present, however, as they attempt to avoid a season-high third consecutive loss when they host the road-weary Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Arizona suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since the first two games of the season, losing at home to slumping Columbus 3-2 on Thursday after blowing a two-goal lead two nights earlier in an overtime setback in Calgary. "The next game is going to be huge for us to bounce back and get a win," captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson said. "We're not going to use the schedule as an excuse, we've talked about that; we just want to play good hockey and get some wins, and that's what we need to get back to." After winning for just the second time in 10 road games with a 4-2 victory at Anaheim on Tuesday, Minnesota's furious comeback came up short at San Jose in the second of a four-game trek. "After the first period we deserved (a) better fate," coach Bruce Boudreau said after his team scored three times in the third period of a 6-5 loss to the Sharks.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Arizona, FS Arizona-Plus

ABOUT THE WILD (5-10-1): Jordan Greenway has been held off the scoresheet for five straight games but the 6-foot-6, 225-pound forward has made his presence felt by delivering 11 hits to go along with two takeaways and a blocked shot in the first two games of the road trip. "Here, with the talent that so many people have, in order for me to have a big impact on the game, I've got to do it, and I have to incorporate it into my game much more than I have," Greenway said of playing a physical game. Eric Staal has goals in back-to-back games and has 14 in 23 matchups versus Arizona.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (9-5-2): Jordan Oesterle, who has sat out the past two games due to an upper-body injury, is expected to return to the lineup while a decision on fellow blue-liner Jason Demers will be made at Saturday's morning skate. Michael Grabner has points in three consecutive games after setting up a goal in Thursday's loss, the 100th assist of his career, but he has only two goals and as many assists in 14 meetings versus the Wild. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who spent his first five seasons with Minnesota, is 1-1-0 with two goals allowed against his former team.

OVERTIME

1. Wild G Devan Dubnyk is 3-2-1 with 15 goals allowed in six matchups versus Arizona over the past three seasons.

2. Coyotes F Carl Soderberg has scored three times in six games and has seven goals and 14 points in 22 games versus Minnesota.

3. Wild F Mats Zuccarello has six points during a five-game streak.

PREDICTION: Wild 3, Coyotes 2

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