Coyotes and Oilers Clash in Desert Showdown at Mullett Arena
As the Arizona Coyotes prepare to host the Edmonton Oilers at Mullett Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can continue its recent trend of resilience. The Coyotes have shown a mixed bag of results in their last few outings, with a notable victory against the Senators followed by a tough loss to the Avalanche and then bouncing back with an impressive win over the Sharks.
The Coyotes' performance has been characterized by strong third-period rallies, as seen in their comeback against Ottawa where they scored three goals in the final period. However, consistency remains an issue; despite outshooting opponents in two out of three past games, they've struggled with maintaining leads and closing out games.
Faceoffs have been another area of fluctuation for Arizona. They dominated with a 54 percent win rate against Ottawa but dipped to 43 percent versus Colorado. Their powerplay clicked at an 88 percent faceoff win rate against San Jose but was less effective during other matches.
Defensively, Arizona has had its ups and downs as well. They managed to block a significant number of shots (20) against San Jose but were on the negative side of plus-minus ratings (-20) when facing Colorado's offensive firepower.
Goaltending will be crucial for Arizona; they've seen save percentages hovering around perfection when victorious but have also experienced games where high-quality chances resulted in losses despite numerous saves.
The upcoming game promises excitement as both teams bring unique strengths to Mullett Arena—a venue that has witnessed some memorable moments this season. With passionate fans behind them, it's up to the Coyotes to harness their home-ice advantage and deliver a performance that solidifies their identity as competitors who can challenge any visiting team.
The puck drops on February 19th at 21:00 GMT (4 PM local time). Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+ or SCRIPPS networks for those watching from home or cheering from within Mullett Arena's electrifying atmosphere.