Wild at Coyotes
THE STORY: The Phoenix Coyotes have not done themselves any favors with their play of late. Losers of four straight, the Coyotes sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, just one point ahead of three teams tied for eighth. After going 11-0-1 in February, Phoenix has yet to record a point in four March contests while getting outscored, 14-7. Also winless in March are the Minnesota Wild, who continue to sink to new depths. The Wild have been outscored 15-1 in the last three games and own the worst offense in the NHL.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSNO (Minnesota), FSAZ+ (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE WILD (28-29-10): There was a time this season when Minnesota was 20-7-3 and sitting on top of the Western Conference. Since then, the Wild have managed a total of eight wins and have slipped all the way to 13th place, one game under .500. The latest losing streak reached five games following a 7-1 setback at Colorado on Tuesday. They have been shut out three times in the last five contests and only avoided a fourth thanks to Devin Setoguchi’s penalty shot Tuesday. “We’re not right mentally,” coach Mike Yeo said. “There’s no question about that … It‘s real hard for guys to emotionally come to the rink and get your mind straight with what we‘re going through right now.”
ABOUT THE COYOTES (33-25-9): Phoenix has the worst power play in the league, converting just 13 percent of its opportunities. That became a big problem on Tuesday, as the Coyotes went 0 for 5 with the man advantage in a 3-2 loss at the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets. Radim Vrbata, who scored two third-period goals in a 4-2 win at Minnesota on Dec. 31, has gone seven straight games without a tally and has only one point during the Wild's losing streak.
OVERTIME:
1. The Wild have lost 18 of their last 21 road games.
2. Minnesota G Josh Harding has allowed nine goals in his last three games.
3. Phoenix has taken seven of the last 10 in the series.