By Dave Vest
GLENDALE – The Coyotes will play a rare Monday night game tonight when they host the Colorado Avalanche at Jobing.com Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. (Arizona time).
Phoenix (26-19-9) will enter the game in seventh place in the Western Conference standings with 61 points.
This will be the third of four games between these teams this season. Phoenix won the first two, which were played at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Both teams are 4-6-0 in their past 10 games.
The Coyotes have dominated the Avalanche in the six games played in Glendale over the past three seasons, winning five. The only loss was an overtime loss in 2007-08. In those six games, the Coyotes have outscored the Avs 20-11.
Coyotes goalie
Ilya Bryzgalov, who posted a 25-save shutout on Saturday to key a 1-0 win over Minnesota, is expected to make his 13th consecutive start.
Having scored just one goal in the past seven periods, the Coyotes are hoping to generate more offense. Despite the scoring slump, Phoenix ranks 11th in the NHL in goals scored with 153.
The Coyotes again will play minus defenseman
Ed Jovanovski and center
Vernon Fiddler. Both have been practicing with teammates the past few days as they nurse upper-body injuries.
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| Photo by Getty Images. |
The Avalanche (25-21-6) will enter the game having lost three games in a row. In its most recent defeat, Colorado failed to score on home ice against Anaheim on Saturday and lost 3-0.
Craig Anderson is expected to start in goal for Colorado.
All-Star forwards Matt Duchene and Paul Stastny rank first and third on the team with 45 and 43 points, respectively.
Former Coyotes forward Daniel Winnik has notched seven goals and nine assists for the Avs in 51 games. Meanwhile, former Coyotes forward Peter Mueller, who has not played this season as he recovers from a concussion suffered in a preseason game, started skating again last week.
The big news surrounding the Avs involves the return of forward Peter Forsberg. The 37-year-old Swede signed a contract with the team on Sunday for the rest of season. He then traveled with the team to Glendale but is not expected to play tonight.
