PACK FACTS
Wednesday is the second of three matchups the Coyotes have with Edmonton this season. The teams are not scheduled to face each other again until March 28, 2022 at Rogers Place.
Dysin Mayo scored the lone Coyotes goal in the Oct. 21 matchup. The game was his NHL debut, which made him the eighth defenseman in franchise history to score a goal in his first NHL game. Mayo spent four seasons playing for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings (2012-16).
Despite not finding the scoresheet on Oct. 21, Phil Kessel enters Wednesday as a point-per-game player in his career against the Oilers (11-14-25 in 25 GP). The winger is expected to play in his 920th consecutive game and has points in four of his last five games this season.
Kyle Capobianco recorded his first career overtime goal in Arizona's last game at Los Angeles (Nov. 21). He's the fifth Coyotes defenseman (12th instance) to score an overtime goal for the club in the last 10 years. The goal marked the second consecutive game the Coyotes won in overtime, just the eighth time ever the franchise has done so.
Capobianco's goal was assisted by Clayton Keller, one of two helpers the forward registered in the game. Keller's two-assist game established a three-game point streak (1-3-4 in that span) and marked his second multi-point game this season. Keller became just the fourth player in franchise history to record an overtime point in back-to-back games.
Karel Vejmelka stopped 37 of 38 Los Angeles shots over 62:45 of play en route to his first career NHL win. The 37 saves tied his single-game high previously set on Oct. 31 at Carolina and are the most a Coyotes/Jets netminder has ever recorded in his first NHL win.
The Coyotes' franchise is 85-99-11-12 all-time against the Oilers, but are 18-10-5 against them at Gila River Arena.
A LOOK AT THE OILERS
Edmonton (13-5-0, 26 pts) is completing a back-to-back set of games on the heels of losing to the Dallas Stars yesterday (Nov. 23). Forwards Leon Draisaitl (18-18-36) and Connor McDavid (12-20-32) rank No. 1 and No. 2 for points in the NHL respectively, with each of them only being held off the scoresheet a combined four games this season (Draisaitl, thrice; McDavid, once). On special teams the Oilers lead the circuit in Power Play Percentage (38.2%) and are sixth on the Penalty Kill (86.4%).
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Jakob Chychrun: Two goals from 50 career NHL goals
Donnie Fuller: One game from 1,500 career games as an NHL Athletic Trainer
Phil Kessel: One power-play assists from 200 career NHL power-play assists
Scott Wedgewood: One game from 50 career NHL games
KEY CONNECTIONS
Ex-Coyotes
• Dave Tippett (Head Coach, 2009-17)
• Jim Playfair (Associate Head Coach, 2011-17)
• Brendan Perlini (2016-19)
• Mike Smith (2011-17)
• Kyle Turris (2007-12)
Ex-Oilers
• None
Lawson Crouse skated with Warren Foegele with the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs in 2015-16.
Ryan Dzingel played with Cody Ceci in Ottawa from 2015-19…Was a teammate of Warren Foegele in Carolina from 2019-21.
Andrew Ladd played with Duncan Keith in Chicago from 2007-10 and won the Stanley Cup together his final season there.
Anton Stralman was teammates with Kris Russell in Columbus from 2009-11….Played with Colton Sceviour in Florida during the 2019-20 season.
André Tourigny was an assistant coach in Colorado while Tyson Barrie was on the team (2013-15) and in Ottawa while Cody Ceci was on the team (2015-16).
