The two teams previously met on Dec. 12, with the Penguins securing a 4-2 victory in Pittsburgh, marked by goals from Jake Guentzel and Jeff Carter. The game was notable for its numerous penalties and saw five of the six goals scored either on the power play or shorthanded.
Now back in Arizona, the Coyotes aim to build on their recent success, having secured a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. In that game, Clayton Keller netted two goals, and Connor Ingram made 30 saves. The Coyotes hope to continue their winning streak on home ice.
Despite a 3-5-1 record in their last nine games, the Arizona Coyotes have shown resilience against formidable opponents like the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, narrowly missing victories in those matchups.
On the other side, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a 1-1-2 record in their last four games, with all three losses decided by a single goal. In their most recent game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 20, the Penguins held a 2-0 lead going into the third period but ultimately surrendered three goals, resulting in a 3-2 loss.
Navigating the highly competitive Metropolitan Division, where only three points separate Pittsburgh (48 points) in seventh place from the fourth-place New York Islanders (51 points), has presented challenges this season. The Penguins have bolstered their defensive lineup with additions such as Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves, leading to a third-place ranking in the NHL in goals against (115) and the seventh-best penalty kill efficiency (83.2%).
However, the Achilles heel for Pittsburgh has been their power play, which currently ranks as the third-worst in the league. They have been able to convert on only 13.6% of their power play opportunities.
