Game Day: Winnipeg Jets @ Phoenix Coyotes
czechtacular on Sat, 2011-10-15 13:45
It's the clashing of two different eras at the Jobing.com Arena tonight at 7 p.m. EST, as the Winnipeg Jets of the new age face the team they've become since they left Canada fifteen years ago.
They're coming into Phoenix as the only NHL team without a win or a point in 2011-12. The Coyotes' record against the Winnipeg/Atlanta franchise is 12-1-1, and they are 10-3-1 in their home openers since moving to the desert. But they will be facing a hungry team with several wild cards in their lineup.
The last time these two teams faced one another in February, the Coyotes beat the then-Thrashers 4-3.
Photo: NHL.com
Quick Hits: Jets
♦ Leading this year's edition in scoring is Jim Slater with two goals in four shots. Both goals came Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks, where the Jets let a 2-0 lead end in a 4-3 final for the opposition. Slater also had seven hits in the game.
♦ Andrew Ladd has eight points in 12 games against the Coyotes, and was one of the scorers in the last meeting between the two.
♦ Kyle Wellwood, who was unable to register a spot on the Phoenix roster last year, returns to the desert and has recorded 7 points in 12 games against them, including a goal and two assists as a member of the 2010-11 San Jose Sharks.
♦ Former Coyote Brett MacLean was claimed off waivers by the Jets last week and so far has one assist.
♦ Injured Jets include Kenndall McArdle, Ben Maxwell, Eric Fehr and Aaron Gagnon.
Quick Hits: Coyotes
♦ Shane Doan, who has a unique opportunity to face his old team despite never having been traded or signed elsewhere, leads the Coyotes with 5 points including three goals, plus a shootout goal through this season's first three games. In other potential rare trivia, he may become the second player to ever reach 300 goals without recording a hat trick.
♦ Phoenix goaltender Mike Smith has stopped all but one of the 39 shots he has faced in the last four periods.
♦ Blueliner Rostislav Klesla had four shots on goal as well as one assist in the Coyotes' 5-2 win against Nashville.
♦ Keith Yandle (yes, him again) recorded three assists in the matchup featuring these two clubs in February.
