Coyotes at Ducks
The Arizona Coyotes have yet to score a goal to start the season and encounter a tall task in the form of John Gibson, who has the Anaheim Ducks off to their best start since their 2006-07 Stanley Cup campaign. Gibson, who made 41 saves in the Ducks' 1-0 win over Arizona this past weekend, will get another crack at the Coyotes on Wednesday when the Pacific Division rivals meet at Honda Center in Anaheim.
"He's been our MVP for the three games. You don't have a starting point in the NHL if you don't have goaltending," Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle told reporters after Gibson made 19 saves and denied all three attempts in the shootout of a 3-2 win against Detroit on Monday night. Jakob Silfverberg scored the tying goal midway into the third period to become the first Duck since 2014-15 to collect five points in his first three contests. Arizona has yet to dent the scoresheet and has been blanked in three straight games dating back to a 3-0 setback to Anaheim during last season's finale. "We haven't scored a goal yet and that's the elephant in the room, but once we break the seal we'll get things rolling here," Coyotes defenseman Kevin Connauton told the media.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, Prime Ticket (Anaheim)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (0-2-0): Brendan Perlini failed to record a shot against the Ducks on Saturday and has just two this season after finishing second on the club with 17 goals in 2017-18. "A guy like him has to shoot the puck," coach Rick Tocchet told reporters of the 22-year-old Perlini. "We've got to get him inside the dots. When he plays outside the dots, it's going to be a tough night. ... We need him to play good in Anaheim (on Wednesday). We really do. He's a young guy and his thing is consistency, and that's what we're looking for from him." Perlini totaled a goal and an assist in his first two encounters with the Ducks last season before being held in check in his last two.
ABOUT THE DUCKS (3-0-0): Rookie Max Comtois scored in his second straight game to open his NHL career as Anaheim edged Arizona on Saturday. Comtois is one of several young players - namely Troy Terry, Sam Steel and rookie Isac Lundestrom - being looked upon to help the injury-riddled Ducks, who are without captain Ryan Getzlaf, former Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves. "This is baptism by fire for young players," Carlyle told reporters. "We have our ample share of them in the lineup, but these are situations hopefully where they can grow and get more confidence. Hats off to them. ... They were in there and survived, so hopefully they feel good about themselves."
OVERTIME
1. Anaheim has thwarted all nine short-handed situations this season while Arizona is 0-for-6 with the man advantage.
2. Coyotes G Antti Raanta owns a 2-3-1 career mark versus the Ducks despite posting a 1.66 goals-against average and .932 save percentage.
3. Anaheim D Cam Fowler had an assist against Arizona on Saturday after scoring and setting up a goal in the season series in 2017-18.