(Sportsbooks) - Now that the Phoenix Coyotes have halted a six-game losing streak, the team will try to post back-to-back victories when they host the
Colorado Avalanche in this afternoon's matchup at Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes ended their longest losing streak since the 2006-07 season by edging the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Wednesday night. Viktor Tikhonov's goal with 2:32 left in the game lifted Phoenix to the 3-2 decision at Nationwide Arena -- the site of the Coyotes' previous win, a 5-2 defeat of the Jackets on November 12.
Daniel Carcillo and David Hale also lit the lamp for Phoenix. Mikael Tellqvist stopped 38 shots in the win, as the Coyotes completed their four-game road trip with a 1-2-1 mark. Tellqvist made just his fourth start of the year, giving No. 1 netminder Ilya Bryzgalov a rare rest.
The Coyotes didn't escape Wednesday's game unscathed, however, as centerman Olli Jokinen, the club's second-leading scorer, left the contest in the first period with an shoulder injury and did not return. He is expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks.
Jokinen, who has seven goals and 11 assists this season, will have his consecutive games played streak halted at 397. He last missed a game while with Florida during the 2002-03 season.
Today's contest is the opener of a four-game homestand for the Coyotes, who are 5-3-1 as the host club this year.
Meanwhile, the Avalanche have posted wins in two of their last three outings and claimed a 3-1 home victory over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night. Ian Laperriere and Daniel Tjarnqvist both registered a goal and an assist to help Colorado rebound from Monday's 4-1 setback in Anaheim.
Ryan Smyth added a power-play marker and Peter Budaj stopped 21 shots to help the Avs pick up the win at the Pepsi Center.
The Avs also welcomed captain Joe Sakic back to the ice after he missed six straight and seven of the last eight games with a back injury and a tooth infection.
Colorado, which is playing four of its next five tests on the road beginning with today's outing, is 5-6-0 as the visiting team this year.
The Avs have won 10 of the last 14 matchups with Phoenix, but the Coyotes did win three of the four encounters during the 2007-08 regular season. Colorado has been successful in the desert, winning six of its last seven stops in Phoenix.
