Avalanche at Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes attempt to complete a sweep of their three-game season series against the Colorado Avalanche when the clubs face off at Jobing.com Arena on Friday. Phoenix posted a 3-2 overtime victory in Colorado on Feb. 11 and blanked the Avalanche 4-0 at home on April 6. The Coyotes, who failed to qualify for the playoffs after winning the Pacific Division title last season, head into their home finale with a 14-8-1 record in their own building.
Colorado has a chance of escaping the Western Conference basement if it wins its final two games and the Nashville Predators lose in regulation to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. The Avalanche fell to 3-6-3 this month when they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Blues in St. Louis on Tuesday. The club is a league-worst 3-16-4 on the road.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, Altitude 2 (Colorado), FSN Plus Arizona (Phoenix)
ABOUT THE AVALANCHE (15-24-7): Cody McLeod is ending the season with a bang. The left wing has scored five of his eight goals over his last five contests. Paul Stastny is three points away from becoming the 10th player in franchise history - and fifth member of the Avalanche - to reach the 400-point plateau. PA Parenteau leads Colorado in assists (24) and points (41) and is tied for first in goals (17). He is looking to join Joe Sakic and Matt Duchene as the only players in Avalanche history to top the club in all three categories.
ABOUT THE COYOTES (20-18-8): Shane Doan went seven games without a point before notching two assists in Tuesday's 2-1 triumph over the San Jose Sharks. It was the 179th career multi-point performance by the captain, who is three points behind Thomas Steen (817) for second place on the franchise list. Dale Hawerchuk is the all-time leader with 929 points. Mike Smith has played well against Colorado over his career, going 8-1-1 with one shutout and a 1.41 goals-against average.
OVERTIME
1. The Avalanche conclude their disappointing season at home against the Northwest Division-rival Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
2. Phoenix has won nine of its last 11 home meetings with Colorado and four straight overall.
3. The home team is 4-0-1 over the last five games in the all-time series.
PREDICTION: Coyotes 4, Avalanche 1