Coyotes at Blue Jackets
The Arizona Coyotes seek their fourth consecutive victory as they begin a four-game road trip against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Arizona is coming off its fourth win in five contests this month, a 4-1 triumph over Edmonton on Thursday in which it spotted the Oilers an early lead before rattling off four straight goals.
The Coyotes have had success on the road this season, going 6-2-1 while winning four of their last five. Columbus also has played well away from home of late, improving to 5-2-0 in its last seven with a 2-1 victory at Pittsburgh on Friday. Brandon Saad recorded a goal and an assist while Sergei Bobrovsky came within 58 seconds of his first shutout of the campaign as the Blue Jackets were 6-for-6 on the penalty kill. Arizona won both meetings with Columbus last season, outscoring the Blue Jackets 10-4 in the process.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSN Plus Arizona, FSN Ohio (Columbus)
ABOUT THE COYOTES (9-6-1): Captain Shane Doan, who is tied with Norm Ullman for 31st place, will pull even with Harry Howell for 30th on the all-time list when he plays in his 1,411th career game Saturday. Should he appear in every contest for Arizona this season, the 39-year-old will finish the campaign in 20th place with 1,476 games played. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is riding a career high-tying four-game point streak during which he has collected one goal and three assists.
ABOUT THE BLUE JACKETS (5-12-0): Columbus is 5-5-0 but has played only two home games since John Tortorella took over as coach for the fired Todd Richards. Scott Hartnell scored his eighth goal of the season Friday, tying Boone Jenner for the team lead. The 33-year-old Hartnell hasn't gone more than one game without a point since Oct. 17 and 20, collecting six tallies and four assists over his last 10 contests.
OVERTIME
1. Coyotes RW Steve Downie has missed two games with an upper-body injury and is questionable for Saturday.
2. Columbus is the only remaining team that hasn't had a game go past regulation this season.
3. Arizona coach Dave Tippett was selected as one of four assistants for Team North America in 2016 World Cup of Hockey.