Oct. 13, 2022 | 4 pm MST | PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh Pa.
TV: Bally Sports Arizona | Radio: ESPN 620 AM
Opening day has finally arrived.
Following an eventful offseason that featured the acquisition of a number of new faces, either via trade or free agency, the Arizona Coyotes are set to open the NHL regular season against the Pittsburgh Penguins today at 4 pm MST.
The last time the Coyotes franchise opened the season in Pittsburgh was on Oct. 10, 1979, when the club was the Winnipeg Jets. It was the organization’s first-ever NHL game.
Coyotes head coach André Tourigny said he was pleased with the team’s performance in training camp.
“The guys worked really hard, we had a good week of practice, and we had good team bonding last week,” Tourigny said. “Everything is in place to get going.”
Newcomers Zack Kassian, Nick Bjugstad, Troy Stecher, Josh Brownand Patrik Nemeth joined the Coyotes for the 2022-23 campaign, but plenty of familiar faces will hit the ice as well, most notably forward Clayton Kellerwho has not played since injuring his leg on March 30 last season.
Keller was putting together career numbers at the time, as he finished the season with 28 goals and 35 assists in 67 games. His best season was 65 points during the 2017-18 campaign.
Although he did not appear in any preseason games, he reiterated on Tuesday that he was looking forward to playing in the season opener.
“I’m excited for the regular season here, I feel like myself again, and I’m ready to go,” Keller said. “Going on the road is always good for a team, especially guys that haven’t played with each other before. You get to spend a lot of time together, and I think that will be a lot of fun.”
Forward Nick Schmaltz scored twice the last time the Coyotes played at PPG Paints Arena, on Jan. 25. Schmaltz finished last season with career-bests in both goals (23) and assists (36). Lawson Crouse also enjoyed a career year in 2021-22, recording 34 points in 65 games.
He expects more out of himself this season.
“I think probably not being satisfied with it, always wanting to get better, that’s the mindset I’ve had this entire summer,” Crouse said. “To do it once is one thing, but it’s always hard to do it again, so I want to make it known that I can do it again and be a reliable guy in this league.”
Player to Watch: Coyotes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere enjoyed a resurgence last season, recording his highest point output (51) since notching 65 points during the 2017-18 season. He has had success against the Penguins in the past, collecting goals and 15 assists in 25 career games against them.
ABOUT THE PENGUINS
Pittsburgh finished this year’s preseason 3-3-0, as Bryan Rust, Sidney Crosby, and Danton Heinen each led the team with four points. The Penguins finished in third place in the Metropolitan Division last season, and eventually lost to the New York Rangers in seven games in the First Round of the 2022 NHL Playoffs.
Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang continue to anchor the Penguins’ offense, marking the trio’s 17th season together. They have spent 626 regular season games with each other over the course of that time, winning three Stanley Cups over that span.
Goalie Tristan Jarry, who led all Penguins goalies in minutes played during the preseason, was 34-18-6 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .919 save percentage with four shutouts in 58 games last season.
Player to Watch: Jarry, who is 4-0-0 with a 1.72 GAA, .928 SV%, and one shutout in four career starts against the Coyotes. He set career-highs in wins, GAA, and shutouts last season.
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