"You're going to get teams that are real hungry and that's a good challenge for our group," Tippett said. "We've got a lot of young players in there where their game has continued to evolve and progress, but now you're going to get pushed harder and you see how they react."
Mike Smith, who stopped 11 of the 14 shots he faced at the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, will start in goal. Smith has won his past three starts and he stopped 87 of 92 shots (94.6 percent) in those games.
Forward Tobias Rieder, who co-leads the team with 11 goals, will enter the game with a three-game goal-scoring streak. He has notched eight of his goals at Gila River Arena.
Center Alexander Burmistrov has notched a point in three straight games and is averaging a point per game over his six games with the Coyotes.
Captain Shane Doan will play in his 1,515th career NHL game to pass Steve Yzerman and move into 16th place on the League's all-time games played list.
Like Tippett, Doan is trying to prepare his younger teammates for what's to come.
"The second half of the season is a lot more intense," Doan said. "You're going to see it and feel it. There's no comparing it to playoff hockey, but it's another step in that direction."
The Coyotes continue to play minus injured forwards Max Domi (hand) and Brad Richardson (leg). Both skated alone on Monday. Domi, who is considered day-to-day at this point, is expected to skate with teammates for the first time at Tuesday's morning skate. Richardson remains out indefinitely.
Arizona's roster is at 22, one beneath the NHL limit. Reporters asked Tippett after Monday's practice if a player would be recalled from the American Hockey League before Tuesday's game and he said no.
"We're going to stay status quo here through the next couple days and see where it goes," Tippett said.
Rookie Christian Fischer, who was sent back to the American Hockey League last Friday, will not immediately return to the Coyotes.
"He's a good up-and-down player, but I don't think he's ready for full-time NHL duty yet," Tippett said. "It's part of the growth for every player."
