The Phoenix Coyotes will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, at Jobing.com Arena. The Coyotes return home playing the role of the conquering hero, after sweeping their brief Canadian road trip. That trip included a win over this lowly Edmonton squad, though it took a shootout to put them to bed.
Phoenix's success started before that trip, however. The Yotes have taken over as the NHL's hottest team, posting a 7-1-2 mark in November, including this six-game win streak. Much of that success can be attributed to goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.
Bryz has had a fantastic month, winning six of his eight starts, while still gaining a point for the Yotes in the other two. His .924 save percentage over that span has driven his overall percentage up to .919, while maintaining a very good 2.76 goals against average.
For Edmonton, last week is better left forgotten. After a pair of drubbings from the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, the Oilers capped off the second half of their six-game losing streak with that shootout loss to the Coyotes on Friday. Their hard work from that game finally translated to success, when they downed a reeling Ducks squad in Anaheim, to stop the skid on Sunday.
With the Coyotes already off to their best start in franchise history, a matchup with the Western Conference doormat doesn't appear to be much of a challenge, but Friday's narrow victory showed Phoenix that they'll have to work for their seventh win in a row.
For more Coyotes discussion, visit Phoenix Coyotes blog Five for Howling.