Preview: Coyotes at Wild

The Coyotes will try to stretch their winning streak to three games on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center. The puck drops at noon Arizona time.
Arizona (11-14-5) will enter the finale of a four-game road trip having beaten Detroit and Toronto after losing the opener to Pittsburgh.

"We've been playing well and defending hard and capitalizing on some chances recently," defenseman Anthony DeAngelo said after Friday's practice.

Mike Smith is expected to start in goal after posting a 44-save effort on Thursday at the Maple Leafs. Smith ranks fifth in the NHL with a .932 save percentage among goalies who have skated in at least 16 games.
Defenseman Connor Murphy, whom the Coyotes drafted 20th overall at the Xcel Energy Center in 2011, could be back in the lineup after missing three games because of an upper-body injury.
Captain Shane Doan still is seeking his 400th NHL goal. He has been stuck on No. 399 since Dec. 3.
Defenseman Alex Goligoski, a Minnesota native, has scored five of his 56 NHL goals against the Wild.
"I think there's more stuff within our game that we can probably do, but it's nice getting results right now," Goligoski said of Arizona's 3-1-0 record in its past four games. "(Minnesota) is a good team and they're playing good hockey right now. We know we're going to have a tough game but we're looking forward to the challenge."

Minnesota (17-8-4) is riding a six-game winning streak and outscored opponents, 21-9, in those games.
The Wild is 8-1-2 in the past 11 meetings against Ari­zona, including a current eight-game point streak (6-0-2).
"I've played that team a lot, and they've always, always been a tough team to play against," Wild Head Coach Bruce Boudreau told the Wild's official team web site. "I don't expect anything different. They've got great speed up front. (Dave Tippett) is a very structured coach who will play their game. It's not going to be a cakewalk. If anybody thinks it is, then they're vastly mistaken."
Goalie Devan Dubnyk, who leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.62), save percentage (.947) and shutouts (four), is expected to sit this one out. According to the Wild's web site, backup Darcy Kuemper will make his first start since Nov. 29. Kuemper is 2-2-1 with a .897 save percentage and 3.36 goals-against average in five games.
Center Eric Staal is leading the Wild with 22 points. He's one of four players on the team with at least 20. Center Charlie Coyle, who has played in 260 consecutive games, is the top goal scorer with 10.
Forward Zach Parise has notched 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in 15 career games vs. the Coyotes.
OFFICIAL GAME NOTES
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