Arizona Coyotes vs Minnesota Wild: previews, predictions, live stream info

Arizona Coyotes vs Minnesota Wild

This game could go either way for the Coyotes, could go either way for the Wild. This could be a blowout in Minnesota’s favor if the Coyotes lose steam, could be a blowout for the Coyotes if the Wild are injured, or it could be the second OT shootout in a week. This game has no guarantees.

Will Sam Gagner score his first goal of the season? Will Nino Neiderrieter score his second? Will the Coyotes watch Mike Smith overcome his early season struggles, or will he continue to get shaken by goals early on? Can Darcy Kuemper continue on his road to dominance? This game isn’t a classic David vs Goliath battle- it’s much more even-keeled. This could be the hardest battle Arizona has fought since… well, Tuesday night.

Game Details:

Date: Thursday, Oct. 23rd
Time: 7:00pm (CST)
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota
Arena: Xcel Energy Center
TV Info: Fox Sports AZ, FSNO
Live Stream Info: NHL GameCenter
Tickets: For Arizona Coyotes ticket info, click here. For Minnesota Wild ticket info, click here.

Keys to Victory:

The Arizona Coyotes could walk away from this game with a win if they get their heads on straight.

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Puck Prose

The team has one of the most effective power plays in the league, and the defense has the ability to keep the team in the game until Antoine Vermette, Mikkel Boedker, or another forward is able to score. At times, the defense are even able to score themselves- both Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson have the ability to service the squad as offensive blue-liners.

This game won’t go the way the Coyotes want it to if they lose focus, though. The team’s play against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night was absolutely atrocious after the seventeenth minute in the first period, when a power-play goal from the Blues completely derailed the ‘Yotes. That kind of play is what could lose the game for them, which they don’t want to do.

The Coyotes sit at a 2-2-1 record, with the Wild right below them at a 2-2-0 record themselves. Both teams are dying for a win to push over that .500 margin in regulation, so this won’t be a blowout unless the Coyotes let it be. They need to remember that the Wild have become somewhat well-known for an assault of shots on goal, and protect their end of the ice. They need to know that Darcy Kuemper is good but arrogant, and capitalize on that. They need to focus on drawing out the emotions of players like Matt Cooke, Nino Neiderrieter, and CAN THEY EVEN FAZE FINNESOTA? They need to try.

Predictions:

Oct 15, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Coyotes defenseman Connor Murphy (5) celebrates with left wing Mikkel Boedker (89), right wing Shane Doan (19), defenseman Keith Yandle (3) and center Sam Gagner (9) after scoring a goal in the second period against the Edmonton Oilers at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

I’m confident that Mike Smith knows this could very well be his last chance to hold on to the number one starting role, and I have a feeling he’s going to play accordingly. Devan Dubnyk has been on fire, so if head coach Dave Tippett had any major concerns with Smith’s play, we probably would have seen Doobie starting in net.

That being said, expect to see a quick goalie swap if things start to go downhill. It’s getting to be too far into the season to leave Smith in hoping he rallies- but luckily, that means we shouldn’t see a blowout like we did Saturday. I see it going into overtime, where it could be anyone’s game.

Just to be crazy, though, I’ll go ahead and say it- if it comes down to an overtime challenge, my money’s on Sam Gagner.