Jets at Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are showing signs of regaining their feet after a dismal first month of the season as they've earned points in three of their last four games (1-1-2). The Coyotes attempt to make it two home wins in a row when they host the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
Arizona is making a quick stop in the desert as it is in the midst of a stretch that has it playing seven of eight on the road. The club is coming off a 3-2 shootout loss at St. Louis on Thursday in which Brendan Perlini scored twice to double his season total of goals. Winnipeg has split the first two contests of its three-game road trip, defeating Dallas on Monday before falling 5-2 in Vegas four nights later. Adam Lowry and Patrik Laine scored for the Jets, who had their eight-game point streak (5-0-3) snapped.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Winnipeg), FSN Arizona Plus
ABOUT THE JETS (8-4-3): Connor Hellebuyck was pulled Friday after allowing five goals on 21 shots over two periods and likely will watch the contest against Arizona from the bench. The 24-year-old Hellebuyck was saddled with his first regulation loss after beginning the season 8-0-2. Blake Wheeler, who leads the Jets with 21 points, was kept off the scoresheet Friday after recording a goal and eight assists over his previous three games.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (2-13-3): Arizona could be without Alex Goligoski on Saturday as the defenseman exited the loss to the Blues in the third period with a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old has recorded one goal in 18 contests, but it happens to be the club's lone game-winner of the season. Rookie Clayton Keller leads the Coyotes with 11 goals - seven more than Perlini and Christian Fischer, who are tied for second on the team.
OVERTIME
1. Half of Laine's eight tallies this season have come on the power play.
2. Winnipeg C Mark Schiefele has scored five of his team-leading nine goals over his last four games and is one shy of 100 for his career.
3. Arizona assigned RW Michael Sislo to Tucson of the American Hockey League on Friday.