The Arizona Coyotes face their first Canadian opponent since the 2019-20 season with a Thursday night (Oct. 21) matchup against the Edmonton Oilers at Gila River Arena. The game is the first time since Feb. 4, 2020 the Coyotes and Oilers will go head-to-head. In 2019-20, Arizona claimed at least a point in three of the four clashes (2-1-1).
PACK FACTS
Shayne Gostisbehere (0-3-3), Clayton Keller (1-1-2) and Phil Kessel (0-2-2) each registered multi-point outings on Monday versus St. Louis. Gostisbehere's three-assist game tied his career high, while Keller tallied his 70th career goal along with inching closer to the 200-point benchmark for his career. Meanwhile, Kessel enters Thursday having recorded eight points (2-6-8) in his last five games dating back to last year.
Thursday is one of three matchups the Coyotes will have with the Oilers this season and one of two in the Valley (Nov. 24 at home and March 28 on the road).
The Coyotes' franchise is 85-98-11-12 all-time against the Oilers, including 16-4-4 in the last 24 home matchups.
Travis Boyd's seven career points (2-5-7) against the Oilers is the highest total he's posted versus an NHL club. He's scored in each of his last two games against Edmonton (May 8, 2021 and May 15, 2021 while with the Canucks).
Lawson Crouse collected two points (1-1-2) against the Oilers in three games in 2019-20. His goal came in shorthanded fashion in ARI's 3-0 win on Feb. 4, 2020 - his most recent shorthanded goal.
Nick Schmaltz (0-2-2) and Jakob Chychrun (0-2-2) also compiled multiple points against the Oilers in 2019-20. Schmaltz got the lone assist on the overtime goal that beat the Oilers on Nov. 4, 2019.
A LOOK AT THE OILERS
Edmonton (3-0-0, 6 pts) enters Thursday as one of six teams to have six points this season. The Oilers are captained by the reigning Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who's off to another fast start with eight points (4-4-8) to share the league-lead. Fellow forwards Leon Draisaitl (2-6-8) and Jesse Puljujarvi (2-4-6) also sit near the top of the NHL scoring leaderboard.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Ryan Dzingel: One assist from 100 career NHL assists.
Phil Kessel: Three power-play assists from 200 career NHL power-play assists.
Clayton Keller: Four assists from 130 career NHL assists.
Clayton Keller: Four points from 200 career NHL points.
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.
Nick Schmaltz and Brendan Perlini were involved in the same Arizona-Chicago trade in 2018…Teammate of Duncan Keith in Chicago from 2016-19.
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).
