Amalie Arena Showdown: Arizona Coyotes Face Tampa Bay Lightning
As the Arizona Coyotes prepare to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena, fans are looking for signs of what to expect from their team. The Coyotes have had a mixed bag of performances recently, but there's reason to believe they could pull off an upset against the formidable Lightning.
In their last game on December 24th against the Colorado Avalanche, the Coyotes struggled with a shooting percentage of just 4 percent and faced a tough loss with only one goal scored. Their powerplay managed to convert once out of three opportunities, but it was not enough as they succumbed to a 4-1 defeat. The faceoff win percentage stood at 43 percent, indicating room for improvement in controlling puck possession.
However, looking back at their game on December 22nd against the San Jose Sharks provides a glimmer of hope. The Coyotes showed impressive resilience and offensive prowess by netting five goals with an impressive shooting percentage of nearly 17 percent. Their powerplay contributed one goal during that match and they won over half of their faceoffs.
The most recent home victory for the Coyotes came on December 20th when they hosted the Ottawa Senators at Mullett Arena. They displayed strong defensive capabilities by blocking 13 shots and winning more than half their faceoffs which helped them secure a win despite being outshot.
The upcoming challenge against Tampa Bay will be no small feat; however, if Arizona can replicate its performance from San Jose—particularly in terms of shooting accuracy and special teams play—they have a chance to surprise many who may underestimate them based on recent struggles.
Tampa Bay Lightning is known for its high-octane offense and solid goaltending which means that Arizona's defense will need to be sharp and goaltending must be top-notch if they are going to stand any chance in this matchup.
Fans should mark their calendars for January 25th when these two teams clash under the bright lights of Amalie Arena at 7:00 PM EST. This game promises excitement and will test whether or not Arizona can rise above expectations set by previous games' performances. For those unable to attend in person, you can catch all the action live on ESPN+ nationally or tune into BSSUN channel number 653 if you're watching from home territory or SCRIPPS for away coverage.