Preview: Coyotes Host Rangers in Saturday Matinee

March 30, 2024 | 3 pm MST | Mullett Arena, Tempe, Ariz.
TV: Arizona 61 | Radio: ESPN 620

Fresh off an 8-4 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, the Arizona Coyotes are set to host the New York Rangers in a Saturday matinee at Mullett Arena. The Coyotes and Rangers are facing each other for the second-and-final time this season, with New York winning the first meeting 2-1 at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 16.

Clayton Keller scored in that meeting, while the Rangers received goals from Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck.

The Coyotes have won two straight, three of four, and five of seven, and are playing in the fifth of seven straight games at Mullett Arena.

Keller has recorded a point in seven straight games, notching six goals and six assists over that span, and is just one point shy of tying Jeremy Roenick’s mark of 154 for most points over a two-year stretch with the Coyotes. Nick Schmaltz, meanwhile, is three points shy of tying his career-high for points in a month, as the 28-year-old has five goals and 14 assists in 19 games this March.

Logan Cooley recorded his first career hat trick on Thursday, and is one of just two players to rank in the top five among all rookies in points (37), goals (16), and assists (21).

Goalie Karel Vejmelka is expected to get the start today, and he has won his last three starts while posting a save percentage of .926 or higher. He is 11-17-2 with a 3.24 goals-against average and .900 save percentage this season, and is 1-0-1 in his career against the Rangers.

Player to Watch: Rookie Josh Doan has made quite an impression in his young career, and he has two goals and two assists in his first two career NHL games.

ABOUT THE RANGERS
New York is gearing up for another playoff run, currently leading the Metropolitan Division over the Carolina Hurricanes by three points with a game in hand. The Rangers have won four straight and six of seven, and have won their last three games in either overtime or a shootout.

Artemi Panarin leads the team with 103 points, which ranks fourth in the NHL, followed by Vincent Trocheck (73), Chris Kreider (66), Mika Zibanejad (63), and Adam Fox (63). Igor Shesterkin is 32-15-2 with a 2.63 GAA and .912 SV%, while Jonathan Quick is 16-5-2 with a 2.44 GAA and .916 SV%.

Lineups were not yet available prior to posting; Shesterkin has started the last three games for the Rangers, winning each of them, while Quick has won his last three starts, and is just one win away from earning the most wins by an American-born goalie (391, tied with Ryan Miller).

The Rangers score the eighth-most goals per game (3.37), and they allow the sixth-fewest at 2.71. They are also one of the best clubs on special teams, ranking fourth on both the power play (26.01) and penalty kill (83.50).

Player to Watch: None other than Panarin, who has nine points over his last four games, and 17 points in 16 career games against the Coyotes.