(SportsNetwork.com) – The Arizona Coyotes will aim for a third straight win
and try to move over the .500 mark on home ice when they host the Washington
Capitals in Tuesday’s battle at Gila River Arena.
Arizona recently won the final two tests of a three-game road trip, slamming
the Vancouver Canucks 5-0 on Friday before notching Sunday’s 2-1 win in
Edmonton.
The Coyotes, however, have lost two straight on home ice to drop their record
as the hosts to 4-4-0. Arizona will be in the desert for just one game before
heading back on the road for another three-game swing, one that is set to
begin Thursday in Dallas.
Brandon Gormley scored his first NHL goal and Devan Dubnyk impressed in his
return to Rexall Place to help the Coyotes edge the Oilers on Sunday. Gormley,
a first-round pick (13th overall) by the Coyotes in 2010, is questionable for
tonight’s test after suffering an undisclosed injury on his memorable night.
Dubnyk, who spent the majority of the past five seasons in an Edmonton jersey,
turned aside 33 shots to beat his former team. The Arizona netminder was
coming off a 35-save performance in the shutout win against Vancouver.
“I tried not to think about it too much and tried to build off of my last game
and things I did well. That helped take away from the situation,” Dubnyk said.
Mikkel Boedker provided a goal for the Coyotes, who had lost three straight
prior to Friday’s win.
The Coyotes can match their season-high winning streak with another victory
tonight. Arizona won three straight for the first time this season from Nov.
2-7.
Washington has lost two straight on the heels of a season-best three-game
winning streak and was dealt a 4-1 loss by St. Louis on Sunday in the first of
three straight on the road.
After being shut out 1-0 by visiting New Jersey on Friday, the Capitals scored
only one goal against Blues goaltender Brian Elliott, who made 24 saves for
the win. Joel Ward scored the lone goal of the weekend for Washington, while
Justin Peters made 30 saves in a losing effort.
Washington had no problem scoring goals when it hosted the Coyotes earlier
this season, but the Caps still failed to earn a point from that meeting on
Nov. 2, losing 6-5 score in regulation. Shane Doan had two goals and assist to
lead Arizona and Antoine Vermette added a goal and two helpers in the win.
Dubnyk stopped 32-of-37 shots for the victory.
Alex Ovechkin had a goal and three assists in the loss to the Coyotes and
fired seven shots on net.
The Coyotes have won three of the last five meetings against Washington
overall and have claimed three straight in the desert.
