Arizona @ Anaheim preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2020 ) Anaheim 2, Arizona 4

Few teams needed to get away from the ice for an extended period more than the Arizona Coyotes, who skidded into the All-Star break with five losses in their last six games. Despite the tailspin, Arizona is only three points out of first place in the tightly bunched Pacific Division entering Wednesday night's game at the Anaheim Ducks.

The Coyotes have had 10 days off to clear their heads since absorbing a 7-3 beating by Edmonton that stretched their road losing streak to four games. "We kind of limped into the break a little there with the last two losses and we want to bounce back from that, especially with two Pacific teams, so we feel like we're ready to go," forward Conor Garland said after Monday's practice. While the top five teams in the Pacific are separated by three points, the Ducks are 14 points behind Arizona after suffering a 4-2 loss at San Jose on Monday to deny their bid for their first three-game winning streak since the season's first week. “We went into the break playing two really good games, with two wins. That’s when you don’t want the break," coach Dallas Eakins said. "This break did not benefit us as a team in any way.”

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: FS Arizona, FS Arizona-Plus, Prime Ticket

ABOUT THE COYOTES (26-20-5): Still awaiting the return of top netminder Darcy Kuemper, sidelined since Dec. 19 due to a lower-body injury, Arizona is aiming for a fast start with a back-to-back against Anaheim and Los Angeles -- the two bottom teams in the Pacific. "Those two that we dropped before the break were big points that we missed out on, so we need to make up for those and get off to a good start right away," defenseman Jakob Chychrun said. Kuemper participated in practice Tuesday but is not ready to rejoin the lineup.

ABOUT THE DUCKS (19-25-5): Forward Nick Ritchie returned to the lineup after missing 19 games due to an MCL sprain and scored his fourth goal for Anaheim, which has been limited to two tallies or fewer in five of its last six. “Nick looked like he hadn’t played in five weeks,” Eakins said. “But it was good for him to get a goal late. I think that certainly helps." Jakob Silfverberg, tied for the team lead with 15 goals, was back at practice Tuesday after missing Monday's game to be with his wife for the birth of their child.

OVERTIME

1. Coyotes C Christian Dvorak has three goals and a shootout game-winner in three meetings versus Anaheim this season.

2. The Ducks have lost all five games this season with Silfverberg out of the lineup.

3. Arizona recalled G Adin Hill from Tucson of the American Hockey League.

PREDICTION: Coyotes 3, Ducks 2