Preview: Coyotes at Jets
Arizona is seeking its first win at MTS Centre in Winnipeg
by Dave Vest @davest4yotes / Coyotes Sr. Director of News Content
The Coyotes will try to earn their first win at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on Wednesday night when they take on the Jets in the second game of a three-game road trip. The puck drops at 5:30 p.m. Arizona time.
Arizona (13-24-6) has posted an 0-4-2 record vs. the Jets in Winnipeg since the franchise moved there from Atlanta in 2011.
The Coyotes started the trip with a 3-1 loss at Edmonton on Monday. After the game, Head Coach Dave Tippett told reporters the team lacked emotional engagement.
"I think a big part of hockey is playing with emotion and when you don't it makes it that much more difficult," captain Shane Doan said. "In order to be successful, we've got to be better at that."
Forward Jamie McGinn agreed.
"You've got to have heart," McGinn said. "That's what it's about and that's where it starts. If you play hard and show that you're ready to compete, good things are going to happen."
Center Alexander Burmistrov, who played five-plus seasons for Winnipeg, is looking forward to facing the team that drafted him eighth overall in 2010 for the first time.
"We came from Atlanta to Winnipeg," Burmistrov said after Tuesday's practice. "I love the boys, I love the crowd. The fans are great, they always supported me good. It's going to be a special night ... I'm sure it's going to be weird, awkward, seeing your ex-teammates skating on the other side in the warmup."
Video: Alex Burmistrov discusses return to Winnipeg
Burmistrov, who will play in his 300th NHL game on Wednesday, notched an assist on Monday in his first game with the Coyotes. Arizona claimed him off the waiver wire on Jan. 2 after the Jets decided to cut him loose.
Goalie Mike Smith will make his 27th start of the season.
The Coyotes will play minus center Martin Hanzal. Tippett told reporters Hanzal has temporarily left the team because of "a family matter."
Video: Dave Tippett previews Wednesday's game at Jets
Forward Radim Vrbata leads Arizona with 10 goals, 18 assists and 28 points. He produced one goal and three assists in the first two games these teams played this season.
Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has scored seven of his 84 NHL goals against the Jets.
Arizona's penalty killing has been solid lately. Opponents have failed to score a power-play goal in six consecutive games (0-for-15).
Winnipeg (20-23-4) has lost four consecutive games and is slipping out of playoff contention. The Jets will enter Wednesday's game four points behind Los Angeles, which currently holds the second and final wild-card spot.
The Jets co-lead the NHL in goals allowed with 144. Looking to stop that trend, Winnipeg has recalled goalie Ondrej Pavelec from the American Hockey League, and he will start vs. the Coyotes.
Pavelec has posted an 8-7-2 record and a 2.78 goals-against average in 18 AHL games this season after spending the previous five seasons with the Jets. He's 6-2-1 vs. Arizona.
Center Mark Scheifele leads the Jets with 42 points. He scored his 20th goal on Monday in a 5-2 loss at San Jose.
Rookie Patrik Laine, who has notched a team-high 21 goals, is sidelined indefinitely because of a concussion. There's no public timetable for his return.
BROADCAST INFO:
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Radio: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM
COYOTES PROJECTED LINEUP VS. JETS: