The Arizona Coyotes have defeated the last three teams to win the Stanley Cup while continuing their climb into contention in the Western Conference.
They will try to extend that streak when they host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.
The Coyotes defeated the 2022 champion Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in overtime on Thursday night. That followed a 3-1 victory over the 2020 and 2021 champion Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and a 2-0 defeat of the 2023 champion Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 25.
According to NHL.com, no team had defeated the previous three Cup winners consecutively since the Buffalo Sabres in December 1995.
Now the Coyotes get a shot at the Blues — the 2019 champions.
“Our guys are really tuned in the way we played the past three games,” Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny said. “The urgency we’ve had, the focus level we’ve had has been unbelievable. … I hope it will fuel our confidence.”
Arizona’s winning streak came on the heels of a three-game losing streak.
“I think we all kind of sat around knowing we had to be better, and obviously we were these last three games,” Coyotes forward Nick Bjugstad said. “Finding ways to win, making those high-percentage plays, and I think that’s really our focus.”
Connor Ingram allowed just four goals while earning the last three victories. He lowered his goals-against average to 2.52 and raised his save percentage to .922.
The Coyotes, who finished 28-40-14 last season, improved to 11-9-2 to move firmly into the race for a playoff berth.
The Blues have won four of their last six games overall and they have won two of three games against the Coyotes this season. They prevailed 6-5 at Arizona on Nov. 22 in their most recent meeting.
St. Louis is coming off a 6-4 home victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Jake Neighbours continued his recent hot streak (seven goals, one assist in seven games) by scoring twice.
“Rollercoaster game,” Neighbours said. “That’s not how we want to play, obviously. We’re happy that we got the two points, and we’ll move on from it, but there’s definitely areas that we can clean up. Just being harder, harder to play against, harder in our battles and stuff like that and just trying to piece together 60 minutes.”
Goaltender Jordan Binnington made 42 saves to earn the victory, but the Blues know they need to give him more help.
“We were going out there and just shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Blues captain Brayden Schenn, who had two goals and an assist. “Turned over pucks and not playing hard enough. Just not tonight, but in general in the second period.
“That’s something we have to change. Can’t be giving up 45 shots a night and relying on your goalies so much. Two points, we’ll definitely take it. It’s a tight league, but we’ve got lots to clean up here and start tilting the ice a little bit and start taking over games.”
–Field Level Media
