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Riding a pair of
hot goalies, the Phoenix Coyotes and Florida Panthers try to remain unbeaten
when they meet at the Office Depot Center.
Phoenix opened its season with a 2-1 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues
at home, then hit the road and defeated the Western Conference champion Anaheim
Mighty Ducks 2-0 on Sunday.
Coyotes' goalie Sean Burke played in just 22 games last season due to injuries, but Phoenix went 14-6-2 in those starts. In two contests this season, Burke has stopped 54 of 55 shots.
``We didn't play very well in training camp, but the one thing I liked about our team was that the guys battled hard and we started to really enjoy coming to the rink right off the bat,'' said Burke, who made 31 saves against Anaheim for his 34th shutout. NFL Tickets
``That's important,
because we have a young team.''
The Coyotes' young group of defensemen -- all under 25 -- have also performed
well so far. Phoenix has killed 11 of its opponents' 12 power-play opportunities.
``Yeah, we have guys 23, 24, myself included,'' defenseman David Tanabe said. ``But, you know, we have game experience, and we've played this game enough to know what to do. When it comes down to it, we're just going to use it to our advantage.''
Florida began the season with a 3-1 win at home over the Carolina Hurricanes, and then played to a 1-1 draw with the Boston Bruins before tying the Hurricanes 2-2 on Monday.
The Panthers have used the same formula for success as Phoenix -- strong goaltending and penalty killing. NFL Tickets
Florida's Roberto Luongo has faced 100 shots this season, stopping 96 of them, and the Panthers have allowed one power-play goal in 16 short-handed chances.
``He's very confident and he's played that way since the beginning of camp,'' Florida coach Mike Keenan said of Luongo. ``He carries that aura. It's infectious to the team in terms of bringing confidence.''
STANDINGS (through Oct. 13): Coyotes - 4 points, 1st place (tied), Pacific Division. Panthers - 4 points, 1st place (tied), Southeast Division.
TEAM LEADERS: Coyotes - Daymond Langkow, 2 goals; Mike Johnson and Shane Doan, 2 assists; four with 2 points; Tanabe and Chris Gratton, 4 PIM. Panthers - Kristian Huselius, 2 goals; Mike Van Ryn, 2 assists; six with 2 points; Nathan Horton, 8 PIM.
SPECIAL TEAMS (through Oct. 13): Coyotes - Power play: 22.2 percent (2 for 9), 11th in NHL. Penalty killing: 91.7 percent (11 for 12), 5th (tied). Panthers - Power play: 16.7 percent (2 for 12), 14th (tied). Penalty killing: 93.8 percent (15 for 16), 2nd. NFL Tickets
GOALTENDERS: Coyotes - Burke (2-0-0, 1 SO, 0.48 GAA); Brian Boucher (no appearances). Panthers - Luongo (1-0-2, 1.26); Steve Shields (no appearances).
2002-03 SEASON SERIES: 0-0-1.
LAST MEETING: Nov. 22, 2002; 3-3 tie. At Phoenix, the Coyotes twice rallied from two-goal deficits to earn the tie.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Coyotes - 1-0-0-0 on the road; Panthers - 1-0-1-0 at home.