I cover both the Coyotes and the Capitals for Hockeybuzz.
Tonight, we cross the streams and east meets west in a battle for blogging supremacy.
Whoever wins shall have my heart and the loser shall get four straight blogs about firing their coach.
The Coyotes (2-12-1) will be starting Scott Wedgewood and the Capitals (7-6-1) will go with Holtby. Annti Raanta played the last two games, but he's coming off an injury and so it makes sense to give him an extra day of rest considering the Coyotes play back-to-back.
Both of these teams are pretty heavily banged up. The Capitals are without Burakovsky, Niskanen and Connolly. Since these are three heavily underrated NHL players, people might not realize how much a hole that is leaving in their already AHL heavy lineup, but suffice to say, it's huge.
The Coyotes are missing two top-four defenders in Chychrun - yet to play a game this season after hurting his leg in the summer wrestling an actual bear* - and Hjalmarsson, who is nursing a wound suffered during one of his fencing classes*.
If you are looking for a good time, try taking a shot every time you see Clayton Keller make a spectacular play. If you don't want to have a good time, chug a beer every time you notice the coach playing Anthony Duclair with either talented player or in an important situation. (You won't be chugging any beers, probably).
If you get a chance, watch this game. The Coyotes are a pretty fun team to watch, and with the Capitals icing all kinds of risky players, Clayton Keller and Max Domi should have some fun out there. Also, Ovechkin vs the Coyotes demands watching. He might carve these guys up like a turkey. Though definitely to not ask his views on the country of Turkey.
And definitely bet the over on this one.
*all injuries are guesses at what might be wrong.