Coyotes at Rangers
THE STORY: Their last meeting with the Phoenix Coyotes began a string of success that has catapulted the New York Rangers into the top spot in the National Hockey League. They hope to continue their run when the teams face off at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. New York halted a two-game skid with a 3-2 win at Phoenix on Dec. 17, a victory that began its current stretch of nine triumphs in 10 contests. The Rangers enter the rematch with four straight wins both overall and at home, where they are 5-1-1 in their last seven. The Coyotes, who are kicking off a three-game road trip, have lost six of eight overall and four of five away from home.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona (Phoenix), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (20-17-5): Shane Doan got the gorilla off his back Saturday when he recorded his first career hat trick in a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders. The captain had gone 1,160 career games without a three-goal performance and entered the contest 14 shy of Scott Mellanby's NHL record of 319 goals scored without registering a hat trick. Phoenix could be without defensemen Adrian Aucoin and David Schlemko. Aucoin already has missed one game after taking a puck to the eye Thursday in Los Angeles, while Schlemko left the contest against the Islanders with a lower-body injury.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (26-9-4): Wojtek Wolski is ready to play after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia in November. But coach John Tortorella has told the left wing he will have to wait until a spot in the lineup becomes available. Wolski, who has recorded two assists in six games this season, is in the final year of his contract and is anxious to prove he is worthy of a new deal. "I'm excited to prove I can contribute and prove that this is where I want to be," he said. Captain Ryan Callahan is riding a seven-game points streak while Henrik Lundqvist has allowed a total of seven goals during his six-game winning streak.
OVERTIME:
1. New York has won seven of nine meetings with Phoenix and 12 of 14 against the Coyotes franchise.
2. Phoenix has dropped four of five against the Rangers both overall and in New York.