Coyotes at Blue Jackets
THE STORY: The Phoenix Coyotes realize they were fortunate to escape Joe Louis Arena with a single point Thursday night. They'll be hoping for a better result Friday as they visit the struggling Blue Jackets in Columbus. Faced with having to take on a Detroit Red Wings team that had lost just twice on home ice in regulation, the Coyotes put up a good fight before ultimately falling 3-2 in a shootout. With just six points in its last nine games, Phoenix happily took the single in Detroit and now faces a team at the other end of the spectrum. The Blue Jackets are just 2-9-1 in their last 12 games, and fell 5-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks in Todd Richards' coaching debut with the club Tuesday night. Columbus is off to its worst 42-game start in franchise history and already finds itself 22 points out of a playoff spot with barely half the season gone. The Coyotes are a respectable 12-9-4 away from Phoenix this season, and has dominated the recent head-to-head series with the Blue Jackets.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (20-17-7): If Radim Vrbata is miffed about being left off the All-Star Game roster, he didn't show it Thursday. The veteran sniper scored his team-leading 21st goal of the season in defeat. His tally is the highest of any player not invited to the mid-season showcase taking place later this month in Ottawa. His teammate, defenseman Keith Yandle, was the lone Phoenix player named to the roster.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (11-26-5): The loss in Chicago capped a 1-3-0 road trip, just the latest bout of disappointment for a team that has seen more than its share so far. Now entrenched in the spoiler role, the Blue Jackets open a four-game homestand Friday that will also see them welcome San Jose, Edmonton and Nashville. The stretch should provide ample time for Richards to get comfortable with the team as it looks to improve its 6-11-3 home mark.
OVERTIME:
1. The Coyotes have won eight of the last 10 meetings between the teams. This is their first encounter of the season.
2. Both teams have struggled in one-goal games. The Coyotes are a symmetrical 7-7-7, while the Blue Jackets are 6-9-5. The winning percentages are both in the bottom five in the NHL.
3. Columbus has just one win when allowing the first goal (1-17-2), tied with the Anaheim Ducks for the fewest victories in the league. Phoenix is 17-1-4 when scoring first.