Ice Showdown at Mullett Arena: Arizona Coyotes Face Pittsburgh Penguins
As the Arizona Coyotes prepare to host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Mullett Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward the momentum from their recent performances. The Coyotes have shown a mixed bag of results in their past games, but there's an undercurrent of potential that could surprise many.
In their last game on December 24 against the Colorado Avalanche, the Coyotes struggled with a powerplay that only converted once out of three opportunities and faced a tough time in faceoffs with a win percentage of just 43 percent. Their shooting percentage was a low 4 percent, which contributed to their loss despite registering 25 shots on goal. The goaltending also left something to be desired as they saved only 85 percent of shots.
However, looking back at the game on December 22 against the San Jose Sharks provides a more optimistic view. The Coyotes managed an impressive victory with five goals from thirty shots, boasting a shooting percentage of nearly 17 percent and winning over half of their faceoffs. Their powerplay was more effective too, scoring once during three chances.
The most telling performance came from their home game on December 20 against the Ottawa Senators where they turned around a game with four goals in the third period. This resilience and ability to capitalize when it counts could be crucial against Pittsburgh.
The Penguins are no easy opponent; they bring skill and experience to Tempe. However, if Arizona focuses on improving faceoff percentages and capitalizes on powerplay opportunities as they did against San Jose, they stand more than just a fighting chance.
Fans should expect an intense matchup where special teams could make all the difference for Arizona. With better discipline and focus on converting chances into goals while tightening up goaltending performance, there's reason for optimism among Coyote supporters.
Mark your calendars for January 23rd when these two teams clash at Mullett Arena in Tempe at what will be an unmissable event starting at 9:00 PM EST (7:00 PM local time). Fans can catch all the action live nationally via ESPN+ or locally through SCRIPPS or SportsNet PT channel number 659 for those supporting Pittsburgh away from home.