Follow our Coyotes In-Game Coverage on our AZ Vibe Sports Twitter Account

Phoenix Coyotes vs. Anaheim Ducks

December 28, 2010 – Puck drops at 7:00 PM Arizona Time
Jobing.com Arena – Glendale, AZ
TV: Fox Sports Arizona PLUS (HD) – Radio: XTRA SPORTS 910

Last five games:
Coyotes: 2 – 2 – 1
Ducks: 1 – 4 – 0

Last ten games:
Coyotes: 4 – 4 – 2
Ducks: 5 – 4 – 1

Record when scoring the first goal:

Coyotes: 13 – 2 – 4
Ducks: 14 – 3 – 2

GLENDALE-After a grueling road trip, the Phoenix Coyotes return home for the first time in over two weeks to play a set of back to back games against the two Southern California NHL teams. Tonight, the Coyotes play host to the Anaheim Ducks.

The Ducks and Coyotes share similar schedules recently. Both have been on East Coast road trips and both have struggled against the Eastern Conference teams they have met. Both teams have had struggles with the parts of their games that have defined them so far this season….the Ducks offense and the Coyotes defense.

We all have seen the challenges the Coyotes defense has faced on this recent road trip. Too many penalties, a lack of defensive zone discipline, and just not playing ‘their’ game on a consistent basis.

The Anaheim Ducks have had struggles with scoring outside of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf as teams seem to be figuring out that 1) their depth players don’t step up and score too often and 2) their defensive zone game isn’t up to snuff.

If you read the Orange County register article below, the Ducks have had individual player meetings with Ducks head Coach Randy Carlyle on Monday about their struggles as of late (the ducks have only won once in their last 5 games) and will formulate a game plan accordingly.

The Phoenix Coyotes have a tough stretch of games coming up but back to back games at home against two division rivals is a good test to see if the Coyotes can build on their victory against Dallas as well as maintaining consistency with the aspects of their game plan that has defined this team.

Things to watch for

How the Ducks come out tonight – According to reports the Ducks ‘went through the motions’ in their last game with the Los Angeles Kings registering only three shots on goal in the third.

Ducks depth scoring – If the Coyotes can shut them down, they increase their chances of winning.

Coyotes scoring depth – Turris stepped up during the Dallas game. Who is going to step up tonight?

Keys to the Game

Come out strong - From the drop of the puck the Coyotes need to come out strong against the Ducks. This Ducks team is mentally fragile at the moment given their recent losses. The Coyotes need to make a statement right from the beginning and don’t let off the gas.

Draw penalties while staying out of the box – The Ducks seem to have a weakness for penalties and are one of the most penalized teams in the NHL. Put them in the box and go to work on the PP

Coyotes Hockey – The win against Dallas is a great way to get back on track to the Coyotes winning ways. Building on that victory by playing their brand of hockey will give the Coyotes the best chances for success tonight.

Game Notes

- Tonight’s game marks the first home game for the Coyotes in 17 days

- Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and Ducks Goaltender Jonas Hiller are expected to get the start in net tonight.

- Patrick Lauder will get the start tonight as the Coyotes Anthem singer

- Phoenix will wear its third (black) jersey for the fourth time this season tonight against the Ducks (2-1). Last year, the Coyotes went 13-3-1 when sporting the third jersey.

- Tonight marks the beginning of the Coyotes ninth set of back-to-back games. The Coyotes have gone 2-3-3 in the first game and 3-3-2 in the second. Phoenix will play a total of 16 back-to-back sets throughout the year. Last season, the Coyotes had 12 back-to-back sets going 15-7-2 overall (8-3-1 in the first game, 7-4-1 in the second).

- Defenseman Keith Yandle continues to lead the charge on the Coyotes blue line. Yandle is tied for fourth overall among NHL defensemen in power play scoring (2-12-14); tied for third overall in power play assists (12) among all defensemen. He has already surpassed his 2009-10 output for power play assists (11), while playing in 50 fewer games. The Boston native has accumulated 21 points (5-17-22) in 34 games this season, tied for first in scoring on the team and tied for 13th among all NHL defensemen. He set career-highs in both SOG (9) and TOI (33:38) vs. FLA, Dec. 4, both team season-highs. Yandle leads the team in avg. TOI/g (24:15).

- Jason LaBarbera posted the 5th shutout of his career against DAL on Sunday; first as a Coyote. LaBarbera turned away all 30 shots in his 5th consecutive start for PHX. Barbs also denied DAL’s Loui Eriksson on a penalty shot on Sunday.

- Coyotes place Nolan Yonkman on Waivers

- Coyotes re-assign Climie to San Antonio

- Coyotes have placed F Taylor Pyatt on IR and recalled Mikkel Boedker from San Antonio

- Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov leads all Phoenix Coyotes players in All-Star Voting

- All Phoenix Coyotes games in the Month of December will be televised. Every game in December with the exception of the December 31st game at the Blues (which will be on Versus) will be on Fox Sports Arizona in HD.

Ducks Game notes

- Recalled LW Matt Beleskey from Syracuse (AHL)

- Jonas Hiller has gone 4-2-0 in his last six appearances with a .943 SV% (197-of-209) and 1.87 (12 GA/386 MIN). He is 8-4-1 in his last 14 appearances, stopping 390-of-418 shots for a 2.26 GAA (28 GA/743 MIN) and .933 SV %.

Pre-game video/info from the Orange County Register

Do the Ducks lack ‘Heart and Passion’?

http://www.ocregister.com/sports/things-281867-ducks-carlyle.html

Ryan Getzlaf talks to reporters about one on one player meetings Monday in Glendale

Temmu Selanne talks with reporters about one on one player meetings Monday in Glendale

Officials
Referees: Mike Leggo (3), Rob Martell (26)
Linesmen: Ryan Galloway (82), Jay Sharrers (57)

Injuries

Ducks: Aaron Voros (Orbital Bone Fracture – Out)
Coyotes: Taylor Pyatt (Out – 1-2 Weeks), Radim Vrbata (Questionable – Lower Body)