Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET, the Phoenix Coyotes (1-2-0) and Detroit Redwings (2-1-0) faceoff live from the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The game can be live streamed here. Phoenix fans can hear all of the action on KTAR AM 620 while Detroit fans can do the same on 97.1 The Ticket.
This will be the first of two meetings between the two teams this season and both come in looking to redeem losses in their recent games, with Phoenix dropping a 6-1 loss to the New York Islanders and Detroit falling to the Boston Bruins by a score of 4-1.
Phoenix is enduring a season-long five-game roadtrip heading into tonight's game, and look to bounce back after goalie Mike Smith was pulled from their last contest. Smith has already allowed nine goals through three games while stopping 85 of the 94 shots he's faced. Smith had a 15-12-5 record last season with a 2.58 GAA and a .910 save percentage.
"We're beating ourselves right now," coach Dave Tippett told NHL.com Wednesday. "Teams have played well [against us], but I'd like to see what we can do."
Radim Vrbata has paced the Coyotes in scoring thus far with three goals and one assist for four points after going 12-16-28 through 34 games last season, while Martin Hanzal has lit the lamp once while adding two helpers a year after going 11-12-23.
Henrik Zetterberg has led the Wings with two goals and has added an assist for three points through three games. Last year, Zetterberg had 11 goals and 37 assists for 48 points in the 48-game lockout-shortened season. Pavel Datsyuk (1-1-2) and Justin Abdelkader (1-1-2) trail closely behind Zetterberg for the team's points lead.
Detroit kicked off the season with two-straight wins before allowing two power play goals out four chances for Boston in the team's first game of the year. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard had 37 shots fired at him during the game.
"We know what it's going to take," Howard said per NHL.com. "We've been through these [kinds of games] for years. It's early in the season, there's no reason to get down about it, beat yourself up. Put it behind you and get ready for Phoenix on Thursday night."
On the young season, Howard has allowed seven goals and has stopped 75 of 82 chances against him after putting up a 2.13 GAA and a .923 save percentage through 42 games last season.
The Red Wings will look to get back on track strongly at home while the Coyotes will try to take a positive test on a tough early road trip in the season tonight.
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