After dropping their second of a back-to-back to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, the Arizona Coyotes losing streak eclipsed double digits for the fourth time in franchise history, according to records.nhl.com, and their longest losing streak since their nine-game lull in the 2022-23 season, that snapped when the Coyotes knocked off the Detroit Red Wings in a 4-3 shootout victory on January 17th, 2023.
DEFENSIVE ZONE MISTAKES FOR ARIZONA
In their 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, it seemed as if 90% of the chances the Hurricanes capitalized on had stemmed from poor play in the Coyotes defensive third, including the first goal given up by Karel Vejmelka, after he played a puck that ricocheted in behind his net, and Jordan Martinook received a pass in front from Jordan Staal after he nabbed the failed clear off the boards to start the Hurricanes onslaught less than:20 into the game.
The reality is that the Coyotes had 12 giveaways, with a 50/50 percentage between defensive to offensive zone giveaways. The night’s biggest culprit, Jack McBain, suffered two giveaways, the first in behind Vejmelka and the second at the blue line entering the Coyotes zone.
It’s not just turnovers in the defensive end; it’s poor on-ice positioning and sloppy control of the high-opportunity areas that led to the Colorado Avalanche stopping the Coyotes from ending their winless streak on Saturday. Steve Peters of PHNX broke down the Coyotes defensive zone play on the PHNX Coyotes postgame show following that game.
MAPLE LEAFS DOMINANT IN RECENT STRETCH
Across their four-game win streak, which includes a 9-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, the Leafs have outscored opponents 21-8, with all but one of the games being decided in regulation.
For reference, the Coyotes have scored 23 goals across their last 10 losses and have allowed 46 goals.
The two teams share an 18-4-2 record in favor of the Coyotes since 2006, with the Coyotes grabbing at least one point in every matchup hosted by the Maple Leafs in that span.
The Maple Leafs have not beaten the Coyotes since February 11, 2020.
The final storyline for the game?
ARIZONA KIDS HOMECOMING
Auston Matthews has been back to the Valley of the Sun since being full-time on the Maple Leafs roster, but now there’s two Arizona kids on the Maple Leafs, as this will be the first time Matthew Knies makes his appearance in front of his hometown crowd.
A double whammy of homecomings and a sweet insult from Knies – joy, oh sweet joy…
Add in Max Domi returning to his first NHL home, and you have an entire forward line back where it all started, and still willing to dish out the disrespect, knowing that without the Arizona hockey community, they may not be where they are.
Toronto and Arizona square off on Wednesday at 7:00 PM local time.
ITR 39: Conference Finals – Inside The Rink
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