The Ducks will be playing their third of seven games in a row against Western Conference teams. Anaheim defeated the visiting Calgary Flames 2-1 on Friday. The Coyotes started the season 2-15-3, then went 5-3-2 including wins against the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings, but are 2-8-0 since, including a 7-4 loss to the Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Players to watch
Coyotes defenseman Alex Goligoski has five points (one goal, four assists) in the past five games. He had a season-high three points (three assists) in a 5-4 loss to the Ducks in the season opener. Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) since returning from injury nine games ago. He has 61 points (19 goals, 42 assists) in 62 games against the Coyotes.
They said it
"We're such a fragile group when something bad happens to us." -- Coyotes forward Jordan Martinook "We have four good lines in here, lines that can make plays and make it difficult on other teams." -- Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler
Hjalmarsson returned to practice Saturday for the first time since he was injured Nov. 28, but Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that he will not play. Richardson, out since he was injured Dec. 23, did not practice and remains day to day. ... The Ducks sent defenseman Andy Welinski to San Diego of the American Hockey League on Saturday. Welinski had two assists in four games during his first NHL call-up.
Stat pack
Keller has eight points (two goals, six assists) in a seven-game point streak. He scored his first NHL goal against Anaheim on opening night. ... Rakell has six points (four goals, two assists) in a four-game point streak. He had a goal and two assists in the season-opening win.
