Preview: Coyotes Square off with Jets on Monday
Arizona makes first regular-season trip to Canada since March of 2020
The Coyotes make their first trip to Canada this season when they face off with the Winnipeg Jets on Monday (Nov. 29) at Canada Life Centre. The Yotes' last regular-season appearance in Canada was a road trip from March 4-9, 2020 prior to the regular season being suspended by the NHL due to COVID-19. The Coyotes final game of that trip took place in Winnipeg on March 9. Puck drop with the Jets is set for 5:30 p.m.
PACK FACTS
The Coyotes have played the Jets 12 times in Winnipeg since the start of 2011-12. The last two times the teams have gone head-to-head took place in Winnipeg during the 2019-20 campaign, which were the only two times they played that season. Arizona won the first meeting on Oct. 15 (4-2 W) and dropped the second one on March 9 (4-2 L).
A win on Monday would be Arizona's first three-game road win streak this season.
Phil Kessel assisted on both Coyotes goals in the March 9 game and has registered 39 points (19-20-39) in 41 career games against the Jets/Thrashers. Kessel has also found the scoresheet in eight of his last nine games versus Winnipeg (2-7-9 in that span).
A former Minnesota Golden Gopher, Kessel is expected to square off with his former collegiate teammate Blake Wheeler on Monday. The two rank No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in career NHL points among Golden Gophers alumni.
Travis Boyd on Saturday scored in his third consecutive game to tie his career-long goal streak (previous: Dec. 8-14, 2018 with Washington). Boyd also has four points (3-1-4) in his last four games. Should Boyd score on Monday, he'd be the first Coyote since Conor Garland in January of 2019 to produce a four-game goal streak.
Monday is a homecoming for Andrew Ladd, who played in the Jets' organization from 2010-16. He is one of three Atlanta Thrashers alumni who have played an NHL game this season (others: Zach Bogosian and Blake Wheeler). Ladd totaled 305 points (139-166-305) in 429 games with the Thrashers/Jets and has registered 4-4-8 in 23 career games against them.
The Coyotes' franchise is 18-14-1-3 all-time against the Jets/Thrashers.
A LOOK AT THE JETS
Winnipeg (10-7-4, 24 pts) snapped a five-game winless streak (0-4-1) last time out when they beat the Flames on Saturday. Forward Kyle Connor leads the Jets in both goals (14) and points (24) and is tied with Connor McDavid for the fifth-most goals in the NHL this season. Connor Hellebuyck has started 16 of the Jets' 21 games and has the NHL's seventh-best November GAA (2.11) and SV% (.934) among qualifying netminders.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Travis Boyd: One point from 50 career NHL points
Jakob Chychrun: Two goals from 50 career NHL goals
Barrett Hayton: One game from 50 career NHL games
Phil Kessel: One power-play assists from 200 career NHL power-play assists
KEY CONNECTIONS
Ex-Coyotes
• None
Ex-Jets/Thrashers
• Andrew Ladd (2010-16)
Jay Beagle played with Nate Schmidt in Washington from 2013-17.
Travis Boyd was teammates with Nate Schmidt at the University of Minnesota (2011-13) and on the AHL's Hershey Bears (2014-15).
Ryan Dzingel played with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Riley Nash in Columbus for part of the 2018-19 season.
Alex Galchenyuk and Johan Larsson played with Nathan Beaulieu in Montreal (2012-17) and Buffalo (2017-19), respectively.
Phil Kessel and Blake Wheeler were teammates on the 2005-06 Minnesota Golden Gophers team, the Boston Bruins in 2008-09 and on Team USA at the 2006 World Junior Championship and 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Antoine Roussel skated with Brendan Dillon in Dallas from 2012-15.
Anton Stralman played with Dominic Toninato in Florida in 2019-20…Played for Paul Maurice in Toronto in 2007-08.
André Tourigny was an assistant coach in Colorado when Paul Stastny was on the team in 2013-14.
