The Arizona Coyotes longest homestreak of the season begins on Friday night when the Seattle Kraken ride a six game losing streak into Mullett Arena.
Seattle’s skid comes as the race to the playoffs ratchets down and the Kraken sit at 68 points, 13 points out of a wildcard spot with a 28-28-12 record and sixth in the Pacific Division.
The Coyotes and Kraken have already faced each other once this season, with the Coyotes claiming the win in overtime, 4-3.
Friday’s game is the second of three matchups on the season.
GOALTENDING PREVIEW
Karel Vejmelka has been confirmed as the Coyotes starter, and it was also confirmed that the tandem of Vejmelka and Ingram would swap as the season wraps up.
Vejmelka has posted a 9-17 record on the season to this point, with a 3.37 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. Vejmelka claimed the win in his last start vs the New Jersey Devils on March 16th at Mullett Arena, saving 38/39 shots against and only allowing one goal.
Joey Daccord is the projected starter for the Kraken, after Phillip Grubauer started for the Kraken last night against the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the team’s 3-1 loss.
Daccord has posted a 17-15 record, with a 2.52 GAA as well as a .917 SV%, his best stats in his career in both categories, and posting his career high for wins.
Arizona State men’s hockey head coach Greg Powers says Daccord was part of the era of Sun Devil hockey that “built Mullett Arena”, and this will be his second appearance in as many seasons at the arena.
ROSTER LOOKAHEAD
Pierre Edouard-Bellemare is listed as a projected scratch on NHL.com for the Kraken, and Vince Dunn is out with an upper body injury.
Barrett Hayton and Travis Boyd are listed as injuries for the Coyotes and no players are listed as scratches.
RISING TO THE OPPORTUNITY
John Leonard will start his fifth straight game since getting called up from the Tucson Roadrunners, where he has spent most of the season, with 11 goals, 16 assists and 27 points in twice as many games, 54 on the season.
Leonard has played in 68 NHL games across four seasons, two with the San Jose Sharks, one with the Nashville Predators and this season with the Coyotes.
In those 68 games, he’s posted six goals, 11 assists – totalling 17 points.
Puck drop is at 10 pm EST, 7 pm PST.
