Coyotes look to cap road trip with win in Boston
The Arizona Coyotes conclude a five-game road trip tonight in Boston against a Bruins team that is undefeated on the road -- including a win in Glendale -- but on the verge of the worst home start to a season in franchise history.
Boston (3-3-1) has lost all four of its home games, matching the team record set in 1965-66. The Bruins went nine games without a win in 1951-52, but five of those were ties.
The Coyotes, meanwhile, are 4-1-1 on the road and coming off two consecutive victories over Ottawa (4-1) and Toronto (4-3). But Arizona hasn't beaten Boston since Oct. 9, 2010 -- a span of seven games.
The Coyotes continue to get inspired play from rookie Max Domi, who scored of their four goals against Toronto and now leads all NHL rookies with 10 points (four goals, six assists).
"This was a big game for everyone and we had some big goals from the whole lineup," Domi id after Monday night's win.
Domi has scored in seven of Arizona's nine games, though he was held without a point when the Coyotes lost to the Bruins earlier this month at Gila River Arena. His plus-minus rating of plus-seven is tied for fourth best in the league.
"He plays a real dynamic game and he's tenacious," coach Dave Tippett said. "The thing we have been telling him to try to do is shoot the puck more. He's got a great shot, forehand and backhand. It's a really good story right now for an unbelievable kid. There is a lot of pressure and spotlight on him, and he's handled it well."
Martin Hanzal's assist on Domi's latest tally gives him a league-leading 10. Hanzal is still looking for his first goal, and he has no points in eight career matchups against the Bruins.
The Bruins are hoping their road mentality can carry over to their home ice at TD Garden.
"On the road, for some reason, we've played really well -- a full 60 minutes -- without trying to be too cute; just trying outwork the other team, and it's been working," forward David Krejci told the team's official website. "So at home, we've got to take the same approach - just outwork the other team and try to play a full 60 minutes."
The site hasn't mattered to Krejci, who is tied for the league lead with three others with 12 points. He's managed at least one point in each of the first seven games/
Krejci has nine points in nine career meetings with the Coyotes, scoring a goal and assisting on two others in Boston's 5-3 win at Arizona on Oct. 17.
Patrice Bergeron had two goals and one assist in that matchup and has four goals and three assists in his last four games against the Coyotes.
Tyler Gaudet made his season debut for the Coyotes and saw 14 minutes, 22 seconds of ice time. ... Zbynek Michalek blocked a team-high six shots and is now tied for 5th in blocked shots in the NHL (24). ... The Coyotes are tied for 2nd in the NHL with 10 first-period period goals and are also tied for second in yielding the fewest opening-period goals with three. ... Shane Doan scored his 370th career goal on Monday and 114th power-play goal. He's tied for second with Keith Tkachuk in power-play goals in franchise history -- eight short of Dale Hawerchuk -- and is also second in most goals -- nine behind Hawerchuk.