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The Phoenix Coyotes (22-20-8) return to the ice Tuesday to take on the Anaheim Ducks (18-23-7) after having a week off for the NHL All-Star break.
While the Coyotes have managed to stay alive in a packed Western Conference playoff race, the Ducks have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL this season. The Ducks are on pace for their worst season since 03-04 when they finished 29-35-10 and missed the playoffs; however, the Ducks have finally started to roll under coach Bruce Boudreau and have gone 8-1-1 in their last 10.
Tuesdays game will be the fifth of six meetings between the teams this season. The series is even after four games, with the Ducks getting the most recent win in a 6-2 blowout Jan.18.
The Coyotes went into the break riding a 3-2 win against the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 24, but the victory was only the ninth for the team since the beginning of December. The one-goal victory was the first for the Coyotes after losing in their previous five one-goal contest.
"In my history with this team, one-goal games were our forte," defenseman Adrian Aucoin told NHL.com. "We've taken a lot of pride in it. It got us to the playoffs twice. This year, it's been tough on us and when you're down by a goal it's hard hockey. It's nice to pull one off like that and we're going to need more."
Chris Summers will be in the lineup for the Coyotes Tuesday after being recalled by the Coyotes Monday. The recall comes just five days after Summers had been assigned to the Coyotes AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Summers has played in nine games with the Coyotes this season, collecting three assists. Summers was drafted by the Coyotes 29th overall in the 2006 Entry Draft.
With only 32 games left in the season, coach Dave Tippett knows his team needs to perform if they want to stay in the thick of the playoff race. "I think for us to put a push on after the break, we're going to have to come back and be a lot better team," Tippett told the Arizona Republic. "We're going to have to have individuals play better. We're going to have to play better as a group to give ourselves the best chance of being a playoff team."
The puck drops at 7 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena and the game can be seen on Fox Sports Arizona.
Best Coyote quote of All-Star break
Keith Yandle was the Coyotes lone All-Star in Ottawa this weekend and competed in the fastest skater competition. Yandle took a small tumble in the final corner of the race and seemed to throw a hook towards Phil Kessel in an attempt to catch up.
When asked about justifications for his actions Yandle admitted to holding a grudge against Kessel saying, "Turning to my right isn't my specialty, so I stumbled out of there. I asked him if he'd 'Rock, Paper, Scissor' me for which side we'd go. But he was too scared, because he knows how good my 'Rock, Paper, Scissor' game is."
Cogliano Nets Natural Hat Trick, Ducks Dominate Coyotes 4-1
Andrew Cogliano scored three straight goals in the second period to propel the Anaheim Ducks past the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night at Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes came out strong in the first period and seemed to be dominating in their first game back from the All-Star break. It is usually Ray Whitney feeding the puck to Radim Vrbata for a goal, but 7:39 into the first period Vrabta found Whitney sitting back door for an easy goal after a Ducks turnover. The duo have combined for 83 points this season.
Any momentum the Coyotes had gained during the first period was quickly taken away in a 7-minute span of the second period. Cogliano would score three goals in that time, giving him not only his first career hat trick but also a natural hat trick.
Two of the three goals are ones that Coyote goaltender Mike Smith will want back. Cogliano's first came after Smith got caught behind the net and let a bad angle shot slide by. Cogliano's final goal would be a fluttering backhand that somehow found its way past Smith's pads. Smith was pulled by coach Dave Tippett after the series of goals in favor of Jason LaBarbera. Smith would stop 15 shots and LaBarbera 11.
In the third period it looked like the Coyotes would cut into the lead after Whitney put in his second goal on a two-man advantage, but the referees would wave the goal off due to Martin Hanzal interfering with Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller. To call the referee's decision controversial would be an understatement. It was a momentum killer for the 'Yotes who were in desperate need of something to change the flow of the game.
Teemu Selanne would score his 16th goal of the season on an empty net to solidify the 4-1 win.
The loss gives the Coyotes a conclusion to an abysmal month of January. The Coyotes went 3-5-4 during the month and now have a team that was once making camp in the basement of the Pacific Division nipping at their heels. The Coyotes will have a chance to get back on track Saturday against the division leading San Jose Sharks.
The game is at 6 p.m. and can be seen on Fox Sports Arizona Plus. It will also be Buck Bash night at Jobing.com Arena where fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, soda and beer.
Jan 31 11:14p by John De Groote