Doggystyle: Blues At Arizona Coyotes Preview

After a tough loss to the Kings, the Blues now travel to the desert to face the Arizona Coyotes. After a change of ownership last year, and an additional partner this year, hopefully the Coyotes can focus on just ice hockey this year. If we think we've had it up to *here* with ownership/relocation drama, I'm sure it's immeasurably worse for the local fans. There is a 5-year out clause with Glendale and the arena, so they may still drop it like it's hot, but for now the Yotes are here to stay. It'll be refreshing to just worry about the on-ice product.

There's been some turnover on the Arizona roster. Gone are Mike Ribeiro, Radim Vrbata, Derek Morris, Thomas Greiss, and of course Paul Bissonnette . They have added to the team Sam Gagner, Joe Vitale, B.J. Crombeen, and Devan Dubnyk.

While they've missed the playoffs for the past two seasons, any team coached by Dave Tippett will be a tough outing. He seems to get the best out of whatever roster he's working with. They're off to a 2-1-0 start this year, including a 7-4 drubbing of Emonton (no D) on Wednesday. That game included a hat trick by Arizona forward Mikkel Boedker, making him the current scoring leader for the Coyotes. Last year he set a personal best with 19 goals, so he's off to a beautiful start to beat that this year. Also, keep an eye out for Oliver Ekman-Larsson, easily the best thing about this team. He's a helluva defenseman, and only getting better. We're all pulling for St Louis kid Joe Vitale to do well this year ... just not in this game.

The biggest news for the St Louis roster: Jake Allen will be getting the start tonight in net. There are signs that Carl Gunnarsson is getting close to playing as well. Since he's not quite there yet, Petteri Lindbohm has been recalled.

Further Reading:

Five For Howling

Blues vs Coyotes coverage

Here's the GameDay Twitter Feed:

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Final Verse: Not as bad as LA, but still a later start tonight. The puck drops at 8:00 PM St Louis time, and the official Gameday Thread should drop shortly before that. The TV coverage is on FoxSports MW, and the radio call will be on KMOX 1120. Until that time, sit back, relax, enjoy the weekend and your beverage of choice. Maybe, Gin And Juice?