Arizona's losing streak has everything to do with being unable to get it together in the defensive zone. Vancouver's just came to an end as it finally managed multiple goals in a game.
The Canucks will try to keep trending in the right direction in Wednesday night's visit to Arizona, while the Coyotes need to start by holding a team under five goals.
After Friday's 5-2 loss in Anaheim, the Coyotes (24-22-6) have given up 21 goals over a 0-3-1 span. What's worse is it's their second four-game losing streak on a 2-6-2 slide that's seen a once-promising season take a serious hit.
The Coyotes have taken 27 penalties on the current losing streak and gone 17 of 22 on the penalty kill, and they've also allowed an average of 37.6 shots per game in the last five.
"We've got to recognize that we've got to bear down," Connor Murphy told the team's official website. "Bad penalties, mental lapses and soft plays … we have to take those things out of our games, and we've got to grow and be more of a consistent and stable group. If we want to win we're going to have to do that the whole game."
It's overshadowed some continued offensive production from Shane Doan. The veteran has scored in consecutive games and is a point from matching Dale Hawerchuk for the franchise's all-time points lead of 929. He already owns the goals record of 387, a department in which he's seen a resurgence this season with a team-high 19 after managing 14 in 79 games a season ago. Another would secure his 13th 20-goal season.
"After last season, I wanted to answer some personal questions for sure," said Doan, who scored twice in a 3-2 win in Vancouver on Jan. 4. "I thought I was better than that, and this year I've been able to contribute. ... This year was a different approach where I'm going to enjoy playing hockey. I'm playing in the NHL still, and I'm loving every minute of it."
Vancouver (21-20-12) finally had some fun itself in Tuesday's 3-1 win in Colorado, drawing even with Arizona in the Pacific Division standings with 54 points after allowing the Coyotes to open a five-point gap under a month ago.
The Canucks weren't looking capable of tracking down anyone over their 0-3-1 span on which they'd been limited to a goal in three straight games prior to Tuesday.
"We've been playing decent hockey the last three or four games, but we didn't find a way to win," Luca Sbisa told the team's official website. "Tonight we did."
Bo Horvat's goal gave him 15 points in his last 14 games, but the Canucks need their three points leaders to come around. Goals and points leader Daniel Sedin has been limited to an assist in his last five games, Henrik Sedin is without a point in his last five and Jannik Hansen has been held off the score sheet in four straight.
Jacob Markstrom played for Vancouver on Tuesday, so Ryan Miller should start this game. Miller hasn't won in his last five games, but the Canucks have totaled three goals in his last three. He's 8-1-0 with a 1.65 goals-against average all-time against the Coyotes, including 5-0-0 with 1.39 mark in Arizona.
Louis Domingue figures to be back in goal for the Coyotes after Anders Lindback faced the Ducks. Domingue has given up five goals in three straight losses with a 6.10 GAA. He made 35 saves in the win over the Canucks last month.
