New Jersey @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 25, 2019 ) Arizona 5, New Jersey 3

The Arizona Coyotes will look to grow their lead in the Pacific Division on Saturday when they host the New Jersey Devils, who have lost seven consecutive games. The Coyotes scored twice on their first four shots and got multi-point efforts from four players in a 5-2 victory over Chicago on Thursday.

Darcy Kuemper made 28 saves against the Blackhawks and received some rare offensive support as Arizona allows the league’s third-fewest goals per game but are 23rd in goals scored. “Sometimes we’ve got to help (our goalies) out, they’ve been there for us,” Coyotes coach Rich Tocchet told reporters. “We owe them to play the right way and to score some goals, and we did tonight.” New Jersey interim coach Alain Nasreddine is still in search of his first victory with the team as the Devils suffered a 3-1 setback against Colorado on Friday - their fifth straight defeat since John Hynes was fired Dec. 3. “Same result but if you look at the game I think we deserved better,” Devils center Nico Hischier told reporters after returning from a three-game absence Friday. “It (stinks) but tomorrow is a new chance and we gotta get right back at it.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, MSG Plus (New Jersey), FS Arizona (Arizona)

ABOUT THE DEVILS (9-17-5): Former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall - the team’s top point-getter (six goals, 19 assists) - was pulled from the lineup as a precaution just prior to Friday’s puck drop as speculation grows surrounding a potential trade. Defenseman Mirco Mueller scored his first goal of the year Friday and the fourth in a career spanning six seasons and 153 career games. The Devils have the league’s second-fewest points (23), score the second-fewest goals per game and allow opponents to score the second-most.

ABOUT THE COYOTES (19-11-4): Right winger Clayton Keller scored two goals Thursday and put up 12 shots - tying a franchise record that was accomplished in 1997 by Jeremy Roenick. With assists on all three first period goals, forward Vinnie Hinostroza tied his career high for points in a game and recorded his first multi-point effort of the season. Brad Richardson’s first goal of the season - Thursday’s game-winner - came in his 27th game after the 15-year-veteran potted a career-high 19 goals in 2018-19.

OVERTIME

1. Coyotes C Christian Dvorak has nine points in his last nine games (two goals, seven assists) and is two points away from 100 for his career.

2. Devils RW Kyle Palmieri and C Blake Coleman each have a plus-2 rating on the season - the only players on the team with a plus-minus above even.

3. The Coyotes are 14-3-2 in games when Keller records at least one point.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Devils 2