Arizona Coyotes Games 21 Thru 23 Predictions
Oct 24, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Arizona Coyotes right wing Brad Richardson (12) scores against Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) in the third period at Canadian Tire Centre. The Coyotes defeated the Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
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Ottawa Senators at Arizona Coyotes – November 28, 2015
The Arizona Coyotes played a very sound game back on October 24th to defeat the Senators on their home ice 4-1. This time it was Mikkel Boedker’s turn to score a hat trick, and it earned him a second star nomination for the game. Who was the first star? That would be none other than Anders Lindback who turned away 35 shots, had a SV% of .972, and did not allow the Ottawa team a power play goal on four attempts.
Since that time, the Senators have a 6-2-3 record and are in second place in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Six of their 19 games have been shootouts, dispelling the league wide statistic that the 3-on-3 overtime is working. They are 3-3 in shootouts, and have also lost two games in overtime.
This tells most observers that the Ottawa team plays games very closely. The Arizona Coyotes need to play them exactly as they did last month, where they stayed with them, and broke the game wide open in the third period when they scored three goals in a 3:28 time frame. Brad Richardson’s tough goal in the crease area (see above image) typifies the effort the Coyotes put forth in that game.
This should be a great crowd on a Saturday night, and the Arizona Coyotes need to win this game to keep their momentum up, but better yet to show the home-town crowd that this is a different team this season, and losing is not the norm. They can really catapult their way in the standings with this home stand, if they remember to play their game plan, and follow Coach Tippett’s advice to not “chase” the game by getting behind early. When they score the first goal, they are 7-2 thus far this season, so getting out of the gate quickly has been a road to victory.
Prediction: Arizona Coyotes 4, Ottawa Senators 2