March 5, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. MST | Mullett Arena | Tempe, Ariz.
TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN Radio 620 AM
There is no rest for the weary.
Fresh ahead of the team with the second-highest points total in the league, the Arizona Coyotes host the New Jersey Devils — third-highest points in the NHL — on Sunday.
The Coyotes will also celebrate Pride Night and members of the team will wear commemorative pre-match jerseys for fans to bid on.
The auction is open through tonight’s third session and proceeds will be used by the Arizona Coyotes Foundation to support their work with diverse communities, including the LGBTQ+ community. Interested parties can submit a bid can do this here.
The game is the second and final time the two will meet this season. New Jersey won the first matchup 4-2 on November 12 at the Prudential Center.
Forward Lawson Crouse reached the 20-goal mark for the second straight day on Friday, a career-high in goals scored.
The 25-year-old is just two points away from matching his career-high points from last season and has 142 points in 403 career games — all with the Coyotes.
Arizona is playing its second game since Friday’s close.
“Our goal is to turn the page”, forward Travis Boyd called. “We have control over how we come out and play, we have control over how we put in effort and how focused we are from the start.”
Forward Clayton Keller is in the midst of another special season and is just one point away from his second straight 60-point season. The three-time All-Star scored one of the Coyotes’ two goals against the Devils in the teams’ first meeting.
Player to watch: Travis Boyd has played statistically well against the Devils, recording two goals and two assists in four games against them.
ABOUT THE DEVILS
New Jersey is one of the top teams in the league as their 86 points are just two behind Carolina, making them second-most in the NHL. The Devils dropped their last contest, a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, but they’ve earned at least a point in four straight games while only once in the last seven games lost regulation.
Jack Hughes is having a special season for the Devils, leading the team with 75 points and 36 goals. The 21-year-old already eclipsed his previous career high last season, amassing six points in his last five games.
Veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton’s 41 assists are the team’s most assists. His 59 points this season is the most he’s scored in a single season, an impressive feat considering he’s in his 11th season.
Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid are New Jersey’s current tandem between the hoops as goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was recently placed on injured reserve.
Vanecek is 26-6-3 with a 2.46 clean sheet average and .910 save percentage, while Schmid is 6-4-2 with a 2.00 GAA and .926 SV%.
Schmid started two of the Devils’ last three games.
Player to watch: Keep an eye on center Dawson Mercer, who has scored in eight straight games. The 21-year-old has amassed 15 points since February 16, which is second in the league only to Conor McDavid, and he is the first player in Devils franchise history (since 1982-83) to accomplish the feat .
