Senators at Coyotes
THE STORY: If there are any fans left in Phoenix rooting for a
team slipping further out of a playoff spot and a franchise with no
owner that seems like a safe bet to move sometime soon, those fans will
get to see Kyle Turris return to town. Turris, who was traded to the
Ottawa Senators in December, will make his first trip back to Phoenix
when the Coyotes host the Senators on Tuesday. Turris was the third
overall draft pick by Phoenix in 2007 but turned off fans by holding out
and asking for a trade. The Senators have taken off since Turris joined
the team, going 12-4-2 since his debut on Dec. 20. Ottawa is stumbling
into the All-Star break, however, falling at Anaheim on Saturday and
getting crushed, 4-1 at Los Angeles on Monday. The Coyotes have dropped
three straight and 12 of their last 15, slipping to one game above .500.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, RS Northeast (Ottawa), FS Arizona Plus (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (27-18-6):
Turris, who did not have a point in six games with Phoenix prior to the
trade, has 13 in 18 games for Ottawa, including multi-point games in
each of the first two stops of the team’s six-game road trip. The West
Coast portion of the trip ends with the Coyotes and a date with the
Boston Bruins looms after the break. After totaling seven goals in wins
over Toronto and San Jose, the Senators have amassed two in losing
back-to-back games in regulation for the first time since Nov. 9 and 11.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (21-20-8): Phoenix still says it can make a run at
a playoff spot. “It’s do or die now because we can’t afford to throw
away any more points,” goaltender Mike Smith said. The Coyotes are tied
for 11th in the Western Conference, four points behind the Colorado
Avalanche. Part of the problem is a non-existent home-ice advantage,
with Phoenix only 9-9-4 in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes have dropped the
first two of a season-long six-game homestand.
OVERTIME:
1. Ottawa has taken six of the last seven meetings, including a 5-2 home ice triumph last season.
2. Smith has lost seven of nine starts in January.
3. Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson has four points in the last four games.