The Phoenix Coyotes begin their next road trip in Columbus, Ohio to face the Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday night. Both teams are desperate for wins to keep their playoff hopes from dimming.

The Coyotes road record still has them four games below .500 whereas the Blue Jackets have a 12-10-3 home record – most likely one of the few positive statistics the Blue Jackets have going for them.

The penalty kill for the Blue Jackets has been less than stellar for the past two games only killing off 7 penalties out of 13 chances triggering a sobering 54%. After previously winning four games in a row, the Blue Jackets have been outscored by their opponents 11-4 in their last two.

Stats like these can either turn the tide for a team so that they may fight back even harder, or work against them as they may think that nothing can go right for them.

I would bank on the former rather than the latter.

According to the Army of Ohio, Blue Jackets goaltender Fredrik Norrena will most likely be in the net for the game against the Coyotes. His record is 13-12-2 with 3.02 Goals Against Average and a .898 save percentage. Although his stats are not superior, he was in goal for the wins against the Detroit Red Wings, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Minnesota Wild – all victories for his team.

So far, he has taken care of business that the Coyotes have yet to do.

Even though the Blue Jackets are two places below the Coyotes in the standings, they are still a threat. The Coyotes need to push through them. They need to concentrate on the only issue that they can control and that is their approach to the game. The Coyotes cannot control what goes around them in the standings, but they can control what happens in front of them on the ice.

Starting another win streak would be just what the team needs right now. The first road game can set the tone for the rest of the trip, and grabbing momentum is a key ingredient for the success of this hockey club.

Original post by PB and software by Elliott Back

Join the discussion at The Fanster Forums. Arizona Sports 24/7.