Devils Open Road Back-to-Back in Arizona | PREVIEW

The Devils will play back-to-back matinee games this weekend starting with the Arizona Coyotes at 2:00 p.m. local time, 5:00 p.m. ET.

You can watch on MSGSN or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

Read below for your game preview and the pre-game story below.

PRE-GAME STORY

TEMPE, AZ - The Devils look to build off of Thursday's win over Dallas this afternoon against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. The lineup will be the same, with the exception of Kaapo Kahkonen in goal:

Hughes - Hischier - Mercer
Meier - Haula - Bratt
Palat - Nosek - Holtz
MacDermid - Tierney - Lazar

Hatakka - Smith
Bahl - DeSimone
Hughes - Nemec

"Wanted to go back to him. Thought he played a good game against the Rangers," said Travis Green on the decision to put Kahkonen between the pipes.

"We've got back-to-back games," he said, noting Allen will start on Sunday in Las Vegas. "We'll see two different goalies. Good to give Jake an extra day after not playing for awhile. Emotional game."

Green was asked if a team's performance in a previous game can in some ways dictate their performance moving forward. He felt that was the case. 

"I think you can get on a roll. We're definitely not there yet," he noted. "To get on a roll, you have to win a few in a row. Forgetting about the last game, forgetting why you won, why you lost and preparing for the next game."

The belief in the overall system is the real key that carries from game to game, Green added. 

"Belief in what we're doing. What we're preaching. It was a good win but that win's behind us. There were a lot of good teaching moments yesterday in our teaching session and how that can equate to scoring and defending."

SMALLER RINK

One big difference for today is the Devils go from arguably the largest rink in-bowl in American Airlines Center in Dallas in terms of spaciousness to the smallest by far in the 4,000-seat Mullett Arena here in Tempe. 

"It's different. Everyone knows that. It's no surprise. The game seems a little quicker in a smaller rink. They have a fast team. It's going to be a fast game. We're going to have to be ready to move. Ready to move our feet."

PREVIEW

DEVILS (32-30-4) at COYOTES (27-35-5)

Head-to-Head

This is the second of two meetings between the two clubs. They clashed in New Jersey's second game of the season back in October, with the Coyotes winning 4-3 in a shootout. 

Last season, New Jersey won both games: first a 4-2 win on Nov. 12 at Prudential Center before a 5-4 overtime win on the road in early March.

Devils Team Scope:

The Devils are coming off an inspired 6-2 win in Dallas against one of the NHL's top teams. Jake Allen made his debut after being acquired at the trade deadline and stopped 35 of 37 shots. They got some help on the out-of-town scoreboard as well with the Islanders and Red Wings both losing. 

New Jersey is now four points out of a playoff spot, though the Islanders hold a game in hand. Devils do have two games remaining this season against the Islanders, however. 

With eight goals in seven games this month, Timo Meier is tied with Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov for the league lead in March. Heading into the month, Meier had only 11 goals all season in 46 games so he's seeing an impressive turnaround of his season. 

Coyotes Team Scope:

Arizona is coming off a strong 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on the road on Thursday. In their last six games, they only have two wins. The six games were comprised of two losses to the Chicago Blackhawks, two losses to the Minnesota Wild and two wins over Detroit, who has had a tough stretch as they try and also battle for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. 

Clayton Keller leads the way for the Coyotes with 26 goals and 57 points in 63 games. Goaltender Connor Ingram is having a strong season between the pipes. He has a 2.81 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. 

By the Numbers:

The Devils and Coyotes power plays both sit equal at 22.2% with the teams ranked 12th and 13th respectively. Devils are fourth in the NHL in team face-off percentage at 53.5% while the Coyotes are last at 45.5%. ... Nick Schmaltz has been the hot hand of late for the Coyotes with six points in five games while Meier has eight points in his last five Devils contests. Keller has four goals in his last five. 

Injuries:

Devils

Siegenthaler (Concussion, Out Indefinitely)
Marino (Upper Body, Day-to-Day)
Bastian (Lower Body, IR)
Hamilton (Torn Pectoral, IR)

Coyotes

Boyd (Torn Pectoral, IR)
Hayton (Lower Body, Day-to-Day)