The Coyotes return to the ice for their first post-Thanksgiving contest with a game versus the Dallas Stars on Saturday night (Nov. 27) at Gila River Arena. This is the first of four matchups between the clubs this season, including the first of two in a span of 10 days. Puck drop with the Stars is set for 6 p.m.
PACK FACTS
Saturday is the first Coyotes-Stars matchup since Feb. 19, 2020 (3-2 L) and the first at Gila River Arena since Dec. 29, 2019 (4-2 L). It also marks the first time the teams have played as divisional opponents since March 9, 2013 (2-1 W) when they were both in the Pacific Division.
Clayton Keller enters Saturday with a four-game point streak (2-5-7 in that span), tying Phil Kessel for the longest by a Coyote this season. Keller's three-point performance on Wednesday vs. Edmonton was his 40th career multi-point game and eighth career game of three or more points.
Fellow 2016 first-round draft choice Jakob Chychrun chipped in an assist on Wednesday and has recorded four points (1-3-4) in his last four games. Chychrun has also posted four shots on goal in each of his last three games and leads all NHL blueliners in shots on goal this season (66).
Travis Boyd has tallied three points (2-1-3) in his last two games, including scoring in back-to-back games for the first time as a Coyote.
Shayne Gostisbehere recorded his third goal of the campaign on Wednesday to reach 15 points (3-12-15) in his 20th game with Arizona. The feat made him the ninth defenseman, and the 16th different instance, to reach 15 points within the franchise's first 20 games of a season. Gostisbehere has registered a point in back-to-back games and enters Saturday tied for eighth in assists and tied for ninth in points among NHL defensemen.
Ilya Lyubushkin notched an assist in the last Coyotes-Stars matchup. The defenseman has found the scoresheet in two of the three games he's played Dallas.
The Coyotes' franchise is 72-86-13-10 all-time against the Stars/North Stars.
A LOOK AT THE STARS
Dallas (9-7-2, 20 pts) is making a one-game road trip after beating Colorado on Friday (Nov. 26). The Stars' offensive production is led by defenseman Miro Heiskanen and his 15 points (3-12-15), while fellow blueliner Ryan Suter (3-8-11) has also cracked double-digit points in his 17th NHL season. The Stars enter Saturday with a power play converting at 28.3%, including 33.3% in November to share the NHL's best.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Travis Boyd: Two points from 50 career NHL points
Jakob Chychrun: Two goals from 50 career NHL goals
Phil Kessel: One power-play assist from 200 career NHL power-play assists
KEY CONNECTIONS
Ex-Coyotes/Jets
• Jim Nill (1984-88)
• Rick Bowness (Player, 1980-82; Assistant Coach, 1984-87, 1999-06; Head Coach, 1988-89, 2003-04)
Ex-Stars
• Loui Eriksson (2006-13)
• Antoine Roussel (2012-18)
Jay Beagle (2010-18), Travis Boyd (2017-20) and Liam O'Brien (2014-15, 2016-18) were teammates with Braden Holtby in Washington.
Kyle Capobianco played with Radek Faksa on the OHL's Sudbury Wolves in 2013-14.
Lawson Crouse was teammates with Jason Robertson on the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs in 2015-16.
Shayne Gostisbehere skated with Michael Raffl in Philadelphia from 2014-21.
Clayton Keller played with Jake Oettinger at Boston University during the 2016-17 season.
Dysin Mayo played for Derek Laxdal on the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings from 2012-14 and won the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions in 2014.
Scott Wedgewood was teammates with Tyler Seguin on the OHL's Plymouth Whalers from 2008-10.
