3 keys for victory for Arizona Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche

Tonight is a big night for the Arizona Coyotes. Phil Kessel will play in his 1000th NHL game. Plus the team will play the undefeated Colorado Avalanche in hopes of getting their second win of the season.

We still have a few hours till puck drop so check out your game preview for tonight’s game.

Three Keys to victory

1. Keep doing your thing defensively

The defense for the Arizona Coyotes is the bread and butter for this organization. Going up against a very skilled offensive team it will be important that the ‘Yotes continue to play defensively.

2. Capitalize on the power play

The power play is a big issue in Arizona now. The ‘Yotes need to find a way to capitalize on the man advantage if they want to win. Considering that power plays do not come very often in the NHL, scoring on them is a big advantage.

3. Score early

It is easier to play with a lead than to play from behind. It does not take an expert to find that out. Going up against a highly skilled offensive team the Coyotes are going to want to score early. They have won every game this season that they scored first…. I know it has only been one game but still.

Three players to watch

1. Phil Kessel

Phil Kessel is playing in his 1000th NHL game tonight. The experienced NHL forward was brought to Arizona this offseason to score goals. After 3 games he has not put one puck in the net. Hopefully in a big game for him he can find a way to put one in the back of the net.

2. Carl Soderburg

Carl Soderburg is making his return tonight to Colorado after being traded from the team this offseason. After spending 4 years with the team it will be interesting to see if Soderburg has any mixed emotions tonight.
Plus hopefully he can find a way to get on the board considering he is yet to score a goal this season.

3. Antti Raanta

Antti Raanta will start tonight against the Colorado Avalanche tonight. This will be Raanta’s first game of the season, and will be the first time he played hockey in more than a few months.

Raanta has been out with a knee injury that ended his season after only 12 games last season. It will be interesting to see if Raanta has any rust going into this game. Rebounds might be the biggest issue for the net-minder considering he had knee surgery this offseason.

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It is important to get into the mind of your enemy before each game. The Colorado Avalanche are at the end of their homestand tonight when they face off against our Coyotes. They then will embark on a 6 game road trip and hope to go off with a bang.

Here is what Mile High Club, FanSided Colorado Avalanche’s site, had to say about the Coyotes going into tonights game. This is an exert from Nadia Archuleta preview for tonights game. Archuleta is the site expert over at Mile High Club.

Normally, I’d about the Desert Dogs. However, they made some legit moves — not just cap floor moves — in the offseason. What’s more, they challenged Colorado until Game 81 for that final wild card spot last season.The Avalanche need to take the Coyotes seriously.

Colorado better take us seriously because we are coming tonight to win.