Arizona Coyotes Games 18 thru 20 Predictions

Jan 18, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31) makes a save on Arizona Coyotes forward Antoine Vermette (50) during the overtime period at MTS Centre. Winnipeg wins 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

• Game 20: Arizona Coyotes at Winnipeg Jets – November 21, 2015

The Jets had a respectable season last year, making the playoffs with 99 points, only to get steamrolled by the mighty Anaheim Ducks in four games of the opening round of the post season activity.

This season after beating some pretty decent teams in the Bruins, Rangers, Wild, and Blackhawks, they are on a four game losing streak falling to the Senators, Flyers, Wild, and Stars. By the time the Arizona Coyotes face them on 11-20-15 they may have figured out how to win again. The Jets still have Blake Wheeler, who is burning up the league with eight goals, 12 assists in 17 games. Stopping him will be vital if the Desert Dogs want to end this road on a positive, winning note.

If they can sucker Dustin Byfuglien into taking some penalties to add his 26 minutes in 17 games, that will aide the power play prowess of the Arizona Coyotes. They would like nothing better than to acquire some revenge for the 6-2 opening home game loss the Jets handed them last season.

The Jets are 27th in defense in the NHL so far this season, and the Coyotes need to add to their defensive woes by letting the offense go hard at them. With Martin Hanzal, Max Domi, Tobias Rieder, Anthony Duclair all playing superb hockey, they have the weapons to shoot down the Jets.

Ending this road trip with a win will catapult the team when they return to Gila River arena for a three game set before venturing back out on the road again for five more road games, after the Thanksgiving weekend. After that the schedule makers finally gave the Arizona Coyotes a break from packing their bags so much by scheduling them for eight home games out of nine in December. In fact, they have a six consecutive game home stand to enjoy the friendly confines of home (at least for the next year and a half or so) of Gila River arena until it is decided where they will hang their skates next.

Prediction: Arizona Coyotes 3, Winnipeg 2

Next: Arizona Coyotes Goaltenders Dominate California Road-Trip

In any case, they need to rack up some home wins and make it tough for teams to come in and play in Arizona. They are an excellent road team, and if they start collecting home victories this team will start to look like a contender for a playoff spot.