Up for a little rematch? Coyotes vs. Lightning Preview

Posted by woody On March - 16 - 2010

Phoenix Coyotes vs Tampa Bay Lightning

St. Petersberg Times Forum – Tampa Bay, Florida

Puck Drops at 4:30 PM AZ Time
TV: NHL Center Ice – No local TV Radio: XTRA 910

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Last five games:
Lightning: 2 – 2 – 1
Coyotes: 5 – 0 – 0

Last ten games:
Lightning: 2 – 7 – 1
Coyotes: 7 – 3 – 0

Record when scoring the first goal:

Lightning: 17 – 5 – 6
Coyotes: 32 – 3 – 2

	Point Leaders
Lightning	St. Louis(81), Stamkos(80), Lecavalier(61)
Coyotes	Wolski(50), Doan(50), Lombardi(44)
	Goal Leaders
Lightning	Stamkos(42), St. Louis(24), Malone(21)
Coyotes	Vrbata(21), Stempniak(20), Wolski(19)
	Assists Leaders
Lightning	St. Louis(57), Lecavalier(41), Stamkos(38)
Coyotes	Doan(33),Wolski(31), Lombardi(29)

The Coyotes and Lightning meet for the second and last time this season in warm confines of Tampa Bay. The last time these two teams met in Glendale (on November 16, 2009), the Coyotes took the Lightning for granted. The Lightning brought their “A” games that night and the Coyotes brought something in the neighborhood of their “H” games.

You can guess what happened from there..

Since that game, both teams have improved astronomically across the board. The Coyotes are in 4th place in the West and Lightning players such as Martin St. Louis have improved exponentially since the beginning of the season.

The Coyotes should be more than rested from spending time in the Florida sun during their days off. After a sluggish start in Atlanta the other day the Phoenix Coyotes look to not only improve on their six game winning streak but to further cement their place in the 2010 NHL playoff race.

This is going to be a great battle with two teams that have a lot to prove and much to gain with a victory.

Game Notes:

- Coyotes reporting that Martin Hanzal will be in the lineup tonight

- The Coyotes ‘Magic Number’ to be guaranteed a playoff spot is at 7

- Coyotes Lee Stempniak was named the NHL’s second star of the week

- Even though Viktor Tikhonov was recalled back to the Coyotes, it is unknown if/when he will see ice time

- From the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Twitter account “Stamkos will take warm ups tonight and be a game time decision. Niittymaki will get the start in goal”

- Pre game comments from Lightning Head Coach Rick Tocchet

- Rick Peckham – Gameday Charge

- Lightning Players Nate Thompson, MArtin St. Louis, Antero Nittymaki, and Victor Hedman pre game comments

Things to watch for:

The Coyotes offense versus the Lightning Defense – Both teams have improved astronomically in both of these areas and it will be interesting to see how the Coyotes new acquisitions at the deadline play against the Lightning.

The Coyotes defense versus the Lightning Offense – The Lightning have woken out of a scoring slumber from earlier in the season and will be playing a tight Coyote defense that have improved as well.

Keys to the game:
Officials:

Don’t let Lightning strike Twice – The last time these two teams met, the Coyotes took the Lightning for granted and proceeded to their butts handed to them. If this happens again, Lightning will strike twice.

Keep improving in the Offensive zone – The Coyotes keep getting better and better in the offensive zone across the board. The more this is worked on, the better it’s going to help the Coyotes come playoff time.

Don’t allow the Lightning any space to shoot – The Lightning have improved across the board in the scoring department and players who were dragging at the beginning of the season are now playing up to their abilities. The Coyotes defensive zone game has to be ‘on’ tonight.

Referees: Bill McCreary (7), Brian Pochmara (43)
Linesmen: Tim Nowak (77), Vaughan Rody (73)

Injuries/Scratches:

Coyotes: Kurt Sauer(IR), Scottie Upshall(IR), Robert Lang(Day to Day),
Lightning: David Hale(IR), Zenon Konopka(IR), Ryan Malone(Day to Day), Mattias Ohlund (Day to Day).

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