Confident Phoenix Coyotes look to make it three wins in a row when they face Dallas Stars - NHL Preview
The Phoenix Coyotes seem to have found a way out of their rut and would look to continue that brilliant form when they visit the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012.
The Coyotes are sharing a ninth/tenth position in the Western conference, with a 24-21-8 record, equal on points with their opponents on Tuesday.
Phoenix will be high on confidence after winning their past two games against two of the best teams in the National Hockey League this season.
The Coyotes surprisingly defeated the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, February 4th 5-3 while following it up with another win over conference leaders Detroit Red Wings by a 3-1 margin.
Those two victories against such high flying opponents were unexpected and Coyotes' coach, Dave Tippett said that those four points are highly valuable since the rest of the teams will in all likelihood not be able to achieve that same feat.
"They're two good teams in the upper echelon of the conference and when you're taking points away from them, you're getting points that other teams aren't going to get," coach Dave Tippett said. "You look at those as very valuable points."
The Coyotes will look to make it three games in a row with a victory over the Stars and move up the rankings from their opponents who are currently equal on points with them.
Dallas however, will not be as tough for the Coyotes as their previous two opponents. The Stars lost to San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Thursday, February 2nd but bounced back with a crucial 2-1 shootout win over the Minnesota Wild.
Goaltender Kari Lehtonen played a big part in that victory and coach Glen Gulutzan praised the goaltenders performances this season.
"I think it took him a couple games to get himself back," first-year coach Glen Gulutzan told the Stars' official website. "The last three or four games he played, he was real, real sharp, so I think he's back to where he needs to be."
Dallas will also be looking for victory to move up into the playoff spots and get some daylight between themselves and the Coyotes on Tuesday.
It will be a tough match for both sides however, the Coyotes winning run and the confidence that brings might just shift the balance in their favour.
With the Coyotes offence clicking they will be favourites for the win and the Stars might just lose out in overtime or by a small one goal margin in regulation.
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