Can the Arizona Coyotes Tame the Florida Panthers at Mullett Arena?
As the Arizona Coyotes prepare to host the Florida Panthers at Mullett Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The upcoming clash on January 3rd is poised to be a pivotal moment for the Coyotes, who have shown both flashes of brilliance and moments of vulnerability in their recent outings.
The Coyotes' performance against the Anaheim Ducks on December 30th was nothing short of a defensive masterclass. With a shutout victory, they demonstrated their ability to stifle an opponent's offense while capitalizing on their own scoring opportunities. ARI's goaltender was impenetrable that night, saving all 28 shots and contributing to a perfect save percentage. The team also showcased its prowess during power plays, netting one goal from three opportunities.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for ARI in recent games. Their encounter with the Colorado Avalanche on December 28th saw them pull off an impressive overtime win despite being outshot and facing a deficit in faceoff wins. This resilience could be key against FLA; however, they must improve their faceoff win percentage which stood at only 42 percent that night.
In contrast, when ARI faced off against Colorado again as visitors on December 24th, they suffered due to penalties and were unable to replicate their previous success despite scoring during power play situations.
The Florida Panthers will not make things easy for ARI. They are known for their aggressive playstyle which could test ARI's defense and goaltending once more. However, if ARI can maintain discipline and capitalize on power play situations as they did against Anaheim Ducks—where they scored one goal from three opportunities—they stand a good chance of controlling the game's tempo.
Fans should expect an intense battle where special teams could very well dictate the outcome of this match-up between these two formidable opponents.
Looking ahead to January 3rd’s game scheduled at 9:00 PM local time (MST), fans can catch all the action live from Mullett Arena in Tempe or tune into ESPN+ nationally or SCRIPPS locally for television coverage; FLA supporters can watch via BSFL channel 654.