Coyotes Set to Tangle with Avalanche in Tempe Showdown
As the Arizona Coyotes prepare to host the Colorado Avalanche at Mullett Arena, fans are bracing for an intense matchup. The Coyotes have shown a mix of tenacity and inconsistency in their recent performances, but there's a sense that they're on the cusp of something greater.
In their last encounter with the Avalanche on December 24th, the Coyotes fell short, managing only one goal against Colorado's four. Despite putting up 25 shots and earning three powerplay opportunities, Arizona converted just once with a shooting percentage of four percent. The team struggled in faceoffs too, winning only 43 percent overall and none during their powerplays.
However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for Arizona. They demonstrated resilience by scoring in the third period and showed defensive prowess by blocking nine shots. Their goaltender saved 22 out of 26 shots – an impressive feat despite the loss.
The game prior to that against San Jose Sharks on December 22nd showcased what Arizona is capable of when firing on all cylinders. Dominating with five goals from thirty shots gave them a significant shooting percentage increase to seventeen percent compared to their game against Colorado. Their faceoff win percentage also saw improvement at fifty-one percent.
Most notably was their performance against Ottawa Senators on December 20th at Mullett Arena – where they will again meet Colorado – which ended in a thrilling victory for Arizona. Scoring four goals from thirty-eight shots and winning fifty-four percent of faceoffs highlighted their potential when playing at home.
Looking ahead to this upcoming clash with Colorado Avalanche, it's clear that if Arizona can harness the same energy they had against Ottawa Senators while tightening up defensively as they did towards the end of their last meeting with Colorado, they could very well turn things around this time.
The key lies in capitalizing on powerplay opportunities more effectively than before; improving puck possession through better faceoff outcomes; maintaining strong goaltending; and perhaps most importantly—keeping morale high even if faced with setbacks during play.
Fans should mark their calendars for December 27th at Mullett Arena where puck drop is scheduled for 9:00 PM local time (MST). This game promises not just another chapter in these teams' storied rivalry but also an opportunity for Coyotes to prove themselves as contenders rather than pretenders this season. For those unable to attend in person, you can catch all action live via ALT channel 681 or SCRIPPS network locally or stream it nationally through ESPN+.