Sept. 19, 2022 | 10:00 AM AZ Time | Tech CU Arena
TV: None | Radio: None | Stream: HERE
The Arizona Coyotes play their third and final game of the Rookie Faceoff Tournament in San Jose, Calif. on Monday, and have none other than the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche waiting for them.
The Coyotes have been led by captain Ben McCartney, who scored the game-winning goal late in the third period against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. The game also featured Dylan Guenther’s return, as he had not played in a game since suffering an injury in Game 3 of the WHL Final. Guenther, who was an alternate captain in the game, recorded an assist in his first game back.
Conor Geekie, Arizona’s 11th overall draft pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, also shined after recording a goal and an assist against the Ducks.
Saturday’s win was yet another gritty effort from the Coyotes, and McCartney, Geekie, Jack McBainand Nathan Smith (two goals on Friday, did not play Saturday) have set the tone for some of Arizona’s top prospects.
“I fully anticipate the same type of effort from these guys,” said Tucson Roadrunners head coach Steve Potvin, who is acting head coach for the rookie team. “We’ve been preaching a lot of character and compete within our organization and culture, and I expect the guys to come with that compete and culture.”
All three of Arizona’s rostered goalies have played well to this point. Anson Thornton stopped 18-of-21 shots in Friday’s 2-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, while both David Tendeck and Déreck Baribeau split time on Saturday, recording 10 and 11 saves, respectively.
Player to Watch: Forward Colin Theisen has had a good tournament to this point, logging five total shots over two games. He’s yet to find the scoresheet, but the 25-year-old Michigan native has impressed nonetheless. He had 73 points in 144 games in the NCAA with Notre Dame, and followed that up with 19 goals and 23 assists in 35 games as Arizona State’s captain last season. He then went on to the AHL’s Roadrunners, where he recorded 11 points in 16 games. He’s Signed in Tucson for the 2022-23 season.
A LOOK AT THE AVALANCHE
Colorado also split the first two games of the tournament, starting the tournament with a 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday before dropping a 5-1 decision against the host San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
The Avs are led by forwards Ben Meyers and Cameron Wright, who each have two points through the first two games. Meyers recorded one goal in five games with Colorado last season, this after posting 17 goals and 24 assists in 34 games with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Wright, meanwhile, is at rookie camp after earning a contract with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. The 24-year-old forward enjoyed a four-year collegiate career at Bowling Green State University, where he recorded 101 points in 144 games. He finished his time in the NCAA at the University of Denver with 23 goals and 11 assists in 41 games.
Colorado’s power play has left much to be desired through the first two games of the tournament, as it has scored just one goal on 15 opportunities.
The Avalanche have just nine draft picks on their roster, and three of them are goalies. There are also 12 prospects on an invitation, four AHL contract players, and two free agent signings. Through the first two games, goalie Justus Annunen has stopped 31 of 33 shots, while Trent Miner has stopped 25 of 30.
Player to Watch: Oskar Olausson was drafted by the Avalanche in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, and has true upside. The 19-year-old Swede played in the OHL last season for both the Barrie Colts and Oshawa Generals, where he recorded 25 points in 22 games, and 24 points in 33 games, respectively. The 6-foot-2 forward scored one goal on two shots in Colorado’s 3-2 win over Los Angeles, and will be appearing in his second game of the tournament.
Puck Drop is scheduled for 10 am Arizona time, and the game can be found streaming here.
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