Minnesota (6-2-1) at Phoenix (4-4-0) 10:00 p.m. EDT
GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- A shuffling of the offensive lines
did wonders for the Phoenix Coyotes in their last game.
The Coyotes try to continue the momentum built from a lopsided
win when they host the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
After Phoenix managed two goals or fewer in four of five games,
coach Wayne Gretzky decided it was time for a change. Gretzky
rearranged his forward pairings, a move that evidently worked as
the Coyotes posted a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on
Thursday.
Rookie Kevin Porter scored his first career goal and Olli
Jokinen also tallied for Phoenix. Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 27
shots and Steven Reinprecht notched a pair of assists.
The Wild enter Saturday's contest after suffering their first
two regulation losses of the season. Minnesota opened the
campaign 6-0-1 before dropping decisions to Dallas and Montreal.
After surrendering four tallies in regulation for the first time
in a two-goal loss to the Stars on Wednesday, the Wild lost a
hard-luck 2-1 decision to the Canadiens the following day.