Pre-Game Capsule: Coyotes vs. Lightning

GAME 34:
Coyotes (7-21-5) vs. Lightning (22-6-2)
Arizona will begin a five-game homestand on Thursday night when it hosts Tampa Bay, the NHL's highest-scoring team, in Glendale.

WHERE: Gila River Arena
WHEN: 7 p.m. (AZ time)
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
RADIO:Arizona Sports 98.7 FM
Tweet from @ArizonaCoyotes: GAME ON!Tonight's lineup: pic.twitter.com/gLz21ZK3Se
KEY FACTS:
• Arizona, which swept a two-game series vs. Tampa Bay last season, is looking to snap a four-game winless streak (0-3-1) during which it's been outscored 13-4.
• Rick Tocchet will face Tampa Bay for the first time as an opposing head coach. Tocchet was head coach of the Lightning from 2008-10 and posted a 53-69-26 record in 148 games as bench boss of the Bolts.
• Antti Raanta will start in goal. Raanta stopped 33 of 34 shots in his last start at Columbus on Dec. 9, but the Blue Jackets beat the Coyotes 1-0. Raanta is 2-1-0 with a 1.32 goals-against average and a .954 save percentage in three career games vs. Tampa Bay.

• The Coyotes will enter the game as the NHL's top penalty-killing team since Oct. 31. Since that date they've killed 51 of 57 power plays (89.7 percent) awarded to their opponents.
• Derek Stepan is averaging a point per game in 12 home games this season, and owns a five-game point streak at Gila River Arena.
• Luke Schenn and Zac Rinaldo rank second and eighth in the NHL with 104 and 94 hits, respectively. Rinaldo, however, is ill and likely won't play.
• The Lightning will enter the game having won five games in a row, and with an NHL-high 46 points and the League's top power play at 27.7 percent. Tampa Bay has scored the most goals (113) in the NHL. Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos co-lead the League with 42 points apiece. Kucherov is co-leading the NHL with 21 goals in 30 games. Andrei Vasilevskiy is the only goalie in the NHL with 20 wins. Brayden Point and Tyler Johnson both will enter the game with a five-game point streak.

COYOTE BITES:
• "We're taking this a day at a time right now, and we want to take advantage of being at home and getting to practice in our own building. When it comes to the games, having a home-ice advantage is big so we have to take advantage of that. I think we've played pretty good at home so far, but we know we can play better, and that's the goal over the next few weeks with all of these home games in front of us." -- Derek Stepan
• "You always want to compare yourself and measure yourself against the best. Standings-wise, we know there's a big separation, but you always want to get up for those games. We have been able to play against and have good games against top teams in the League this year so we know it's there. It's just a matter of doing it consistently." -- Luke Schenn on playing the Lightning
• "You can just tell their focus level (is high). Last year was just an anomaly for them not to make the playoffs ... They've got everything. They've got good defense, they've got one of the best defensemen (Victor Hedman) in the League, and two of the best goal scorers in the League in Kucherov and Stamkos. They've got a goalie (Sergei Vasilevskiy) that's up for the Vezina. They've got all of the tools and a great coaching staff. They've got everything to compete for the Cup." -- Rick Tocchet on Tampa Bay