After the Arizona Coyotes lost to the Montréal Canadiens on Tuesday night, in an even affair until the final minutes, the Coyotes roll into Toronto, where they have not left without at least a point in 20 years, to face the Maple Leafs on Thursday.
After allowing hometowner Auston Matthews to eclipse the 50 goal mark on the season in their meeting at Mullett Arena over a week ago, the Coyotes look to try and avoid their 13th straight loss, before heading to Ottawa and Washington to close out their five game road trip.
MAPLE LEAFS FALL TO THE KNIGHTS
After hoisting a win streak that ran seven games, including February 21st’s battle with the Coyotes, the Maple Leafs were stopped dead in their tracks by the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday. Both Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson had a multi-point night, as Marchessault had two goals and an assist, while Karlsson had a goal and an assist.
Leafs goaltender Ilya Samsonov posted his worst save percentage of his last seven with a .839 and five goals against.
Samsonov had played in six of the team’s seven consecutive wins, as Martin Jones started for the Maple Leafs against the Anaheim Ducks in their lopsided 9-2 victory.
FROM THE SAMSONOV TO THE WOLL
Samsonov will sit on Thursday as it was announced by Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe that Jospeh Woll would get the nod between the pipes
Woll missed three months after sustaining an injury against the Ottawa Senators on December 7.
Woll got a recovery start with the Toronto Marlies. After that start against the Laval Rocket, where Woll posted 36 saves on 37 shots with a .973 SV%, he was recalled by the Maple Leafs.
Woll said he’s “looking forward to helping this team out” during media availability on Wednesday. “It’s been a bit of a hiatus, but I’m excited to be back here.”
NECESSITY FOR OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
With Clayton Keller still out of the lineup on Thursday, the Coyotes offense has to be firing on all cylinders in order to produce offensive zone chances.
Keller was seen in a blue jersey on Thursday morning at morning skate.
The Coyotes outshot the Canadiens 38-21 on Tuesday in their losing effort, the sixth time the Coyotes have posted 30 or more shots in their last 12 games, the most in those six games.
In Tuesday’s game, offensive producers Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther and Matias Maccelli all posted four shots, with one point while Nick Bjugstad had five shots with one point.
In just their last seven games, the Maple Leafs have scored 40 goals, while allowing opponents to score only 23. The Coyotes have scored 31, with their opponents scoring 60, across their losing streak.
GOALTENDER STRUGGLES WITH A HEALTHY TANDEM
Connor Ingram has started the last two games on the road trip, and is starting against the Maple Leafs Thursday, as reported by Andre Tourigny.
This will be Ingram’s first career start against the Maple Leafs.
In the two games on the road trip, Ingram has allowed seven goals on 52 shots, an estimated .865 SV%
Ingram hosts a .910 SV% and a 2.81 GAA on the season, the highest of his career in both categories, with a .907 career SV% and a 3.08 career GAA.
MARCH LOOMS
The Coyotes will have gone winless in the month of February if they lose to the Maple Leafs on Thursday, and meet the Senators for a battle in Ottawa on Friday.
Puck drop between Arizona and Toronto is set for 5:00 PM local time.
