Game Preview: Maple Leafs at Coyotes

After getting two straight wins on the road, the Coyotes are back at home tonight to begin a four-game homestand against a red hot Toronto Maple Leafs team. So far during the month of January, Toronto has won five of six, including four straight, with their lone loss coming at the hands of the Boston Bruins at home. The Leafs are looking to win their fifth straight game for the first time since Jan. 27-Feb. 6 2007.

One of their reasons for their recent hot streak has been the play of rookie goaltender James Reimer. The fourth rounder from 2006 has started five of Toronto’s six games during the month of January for the Leafs and will be in goal once again tonight. He has won four of those starts and has allowed only 10 games over that stretch. That is pretty impressive for a guy that is only 22 years old and only made his debut back in December.

During their brief two-game road trip, the Coyotes got many guys to step that have struggled in recent games. On Monday night, Lee Stempniak scored his first goal since Dec. 5. The next night, Eric Belanger got his first goal since Nov. 10. One of the reasons why Phoenix was so successful last season was because they had many different guys step up on any given night when they were needed. They will continue needing that if they want to make the playoffs again this season.

Toronto will be closing out their three-game road trip tonight. Closing out a road trip is always tough no matter how good your team might be because you want to get back home in the worse way possible. It also doesn’t help that the Coyotes have owned the Leafs the past couple of seasons. Phoenix has won four straight with the last win coming in a 6-3 victory in Toronto back in December of 2009.

Here is to that streak continuing!