Oilers at Coyotes
The cellar-dwelling Arizona Coyotes seek their first four-game winning streak of the season as they continue their season-high seven-game homestand Saturday afternoon against the Pacific Division-rival Edmonton Oilers. Arizona, which sits in the league basement - three points behind Buffalo, also is riding a point streak that reached five games (4-0-1) with Thursday's 5-2 triumph over Montreal.
Brendan Perlini scored twice in a 19-second span early in the second period for his second two-goal performance of the season and is one tally behind team leader Clayton Keller, who opened the scoring in the opener of the homestand with his 17th. Edmonton is only eight points ahead of the Coyotes as it dropped a 4-1 decision at Vegas on Thursday to extend its losing streak to five games, with four of the setbacks coming on the road. Leon Draisaitl scored against the Golden Knights, giving him a goal in three straight contests and five of his last six, as the Oilers remained 18 points behind Minnesota for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and fell 18 behind Calgary for third place in the Pacific. Edmonton has won five straight meetings with the Coyotes and each of the first two this season, including a 4-2 triumph at Arizona on Jan. 12.
TV: 4 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), FS Arizona
ABOUT THE OILERS (23-29-4): Adam Larsson could be in the lineup Saturday after returning to Sweden because of the death of his father and missing eight games. The 25-year-old defenseman, who was drafted fourth overall in 2011 by New Jersey, has recorded three goals and three assists in 40 contests this season. Backup goaltender Al Montoya, who made his NHL debut with the Coyotes in 2008-09, was injured by a high shot during Friday's practice and may miss the game in Arizona.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (16-32-10): Keller added three assists Thursday to put his name in the Coyotes record book as he joined Kyle Turris and Martin Hanzal as the club's only rookies to register a four-point performance. The 19-year-old Keller has collected eight points over his last five games and leads the team with 44. Perlini, who also recorded a pair of two-goal efforts as a rookie last season, set a new career high in tallies Thursday after netting 14 in 2016-17.
OVERTIME
1. Coyotes C Derek Stepan notched an assist against Montreal, leaving him three points shy of 400 for his career.
2. Edmonton, which has lost eight of its last 10 on the road, is continuing a three-game trek that began Thursday and a string that features six of seven away from home during which it is 0-5-0.
3. Arizona also won three games in a row from Nov. 16-20, with all three victories coming on the road.