Arizona Coyotes’ Jakob Chychrun playing beyond his years
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Red Wings | 0:36
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes clipped by Red Wings 5-4 in a shootout | 1:20
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, winger Radim Vrbata and defenseman Jakob Chychrun react to the loss.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Kings | 0:31
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 shootout win over the Kings, Mar. 14, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes outlast Kings in 11-round shootout | 1:08
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Louis Domingue, defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and winger Max Domi react to the 3-2 shootout win against the Kings, Mar. 14, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Avalanche | 0:32
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 1-0 win over the Avalanche, Mar. 13, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes blank Avalanche 1-0 | 1:19
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, captain Shane Doan and winger Brendan Perlini react to the win, Mar. 13, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Devils | 0:34
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-4 win over the Devils on Saturday.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes hold off Devils in third period | 0:48
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, winger Tobias Rieder and defenseman Anthony DeAngelo react to the 5-4 win on Saturday. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Senators | 0:39
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 overtime loss to the Senators.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSenators rally past Coyotes for overtime win | 1:11
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, winger Lawson Crouse and winger Brendan Perlini react to the 3-2 overtime loss.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes winger Radim Vrbata reaches 1,000-game milestone | 1:17
Coyotes winger Radim Vrbata is set to play his 1,000th game Thursday against the Senators.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArizona Coyotes Foundation Golf Tournament 2017 | 1:35
The Arizona Coyotes Foundation held their annual golf tournament for charity at the Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Players Shane Doan, Max Domi and Brendan Perlini comment.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Hurricanes | 0:44
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday in Glendale.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSHurricanes rally past Coyotes with late third-period goal | 1:08
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, winger Max Domi and defenseman Jakob Chychrun react to the 2-1 loss on Sunday in Glendale. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Hurricanes | 0:34
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-2 win over the Hurricanes.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to road win over Hurricanes | 1:30
Coach Dave Tippett, captain Shane Doan, center Jordan Martinook and goalie Louis Domingue react to the win.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Sabres | 0:28
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 6-3 loss to the Sabres on Thursday.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to their 6-3 loss to the Sabres | 1:02
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Alex Goligoski, winger Tobias Rieder and winger Teemu Pulkkinen react to the loss on Thursday. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSRadim Vrbata, Shane Doan remain with Coyotes after NHL trade deadline | 1:33
Coyotes General Manager John Chayka, winger Radim Vrbata and captain Shane Doan discuss the two players staying with Arizona.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Bruins | 0:35
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-1 loss to the Bruins.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to Burmistrov hit in loss to Bruins | 1:51
Coach Dave Tippett, captain Shane Doan, defenseman Jakob Chychrun and goalie Mike Smith react to center Alexander Burmistrov’s injury in a 4-1 loss to the Bruins. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Could they leave? Latest on Coyotes’ arena situation | 1:50
azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and azcentral’s Craig Harris discuss the latest on the Coyotes’ search for an arena and the Diamondbacks’ feud with the county over Chase Field.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to Martin Hanzal trade | 1:20
The Coyotes react to the trade that sent center Martin Hanzal and winger Ryan White to the Wild.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Sabres | 0:36
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 win over the Sabres, Feb. 26, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes rally past Sabres in third period | 1:21
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, winger Radim Vrbata, captain Shane Doan and winger Jamie McGinn react to the 3-2 win, Feb. 26, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Stars | 0:34
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-2 loss to the Stars, Feb. 24, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSStars rally past Coyotes for 5-2 win | 1:10
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, goalie Louis Domingue, defenseman Alex Goligoski and winger Radim Vrbata react to the loss against the Stars, Feb. 24, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Blackhawks | 0:32
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 6-3 loss to the Blackhawks, Feb. 23, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to 6-3 loss to Blackhawks | 0:55
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Jakob Chychrun, winger Ryan White and winger Radim Vrbata react to the 6-3 loss to the Blackhawks, Feb. 23, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Ducks | 0:38
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 3-2 win over the Ducks on Monday.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes hold off Ducks for 3-2 win | 0:57
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Marek Langhamer, winger Radim Vrbata and defenseman Jakob Chychrun react to Monday’s win in Glendale. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Sharks | 0:41
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-1 loss to the Sharks.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to 4-1 loss to Sharks | 0:59
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, captain Shane Doan, center Martin Hanzal and goalie Mike Smith react to a loss against the Sharks, Feb. 18, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Kings | 0:33
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-3 win over the Kings. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArizona Coyotes hold off Los Angeles Kings in third for 5-3 win | 1:20
Coyotes’ coach Dave Tippett, winger Jordan Martinook, winger Brendan Perlini and goalie Mike Smith react to a win against the Kings, Feb. 16, 2017. (Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Oilers | 0:38
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-2 loss to the Oilers.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSOilers overwhelm Coyotes 5-2 | 1:14
Coach Dave Tippett, goalie Louis Domingue, center Martin Hanzal, defenseman Alex Goligoski and defenseman Luke Schenn react to the 5-2 loss. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Flames | 0:49
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 5-0 win over the Flames.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes break out in win over Flames | 0:58
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, goalie Mike Smith, center Christian Dvorak and winger Ryan White talk about the Coyotes’ 5-0 win over the Flames on Monday. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSarah McLellan’s plus-minus against the Penguins | 0:51
Coyotes insider Sarah McLellan looks at the plus and minus in the 4-3 overtime win over the Penguins.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes react to overtime win over the Penguins | 0:53
Coach Dave Tippett, defenseman Connor Murphy, center Martin Hanzal and goalie Mike Smith react to the 4-3 win.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSidney Crosby closing in on 1,000 career points | 1:02
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is only two points shy of 1,000 for his careee entering Saturday’s game against the Coyotes. Video: Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSHockey phenom from UAE takes the ice with the Capitals | 0:35
The Washington Capitals hosted United Arab Emirates native and hockey phenom Fatima Al Ali. Time_Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Shane Doan | 1:24
Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Arizona Coyotes’ Shane Doan. (Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes bring their dads on the road to San Jose | 1:10
For the first time, the Coyotes brought their dads on a road trip.
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes goalie Mike Smith on memorable All-Star Game experience | 1:13
Coyotes goalie Mike Smith reflects on his experience at the NHL All-Star Game on Monday. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST ARIZONA COYOTES VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoyotes captain Shane Doan not ruling out trade possibility | 1:18
Coyotes captain Shane Doan discusses the possibility of seeking a trade this season. Sarah McLellan/azcentral sports
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Defenseman Alex Goligoski was playing high-school hockey when he was 18 years old.
Winger Tobias Rieder was in junior. Same with goalie Louis Domingue, who was in his third season. Defenseman Connor Murphy was embarking on Year 1 – just like center Jordan Martinook.
As for Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, he was also a junior-hockey player who spent the summer fighting fires in the northern Saskatchewan forest.
“I wasn’t drafted,” Tippett recalled. “I was just playing for the sake of playing. Didn’t really start thinking about it too much. Went to college, and then when I tried out for the Olympic team and made the Olympic team, that’s when it kind of started to click that I might have a chance. That was about three years later.”
Clearly, skating in the NHL as a teenager is rare, but defenseman Jakob Chychrun hasn’t just filled a lineup spot. The 18-year-old has stoked optimism for the team’s future by continuing to improve as his rookie season progresses – an evolution that has him in the midst of playing arguably his best hockey to date.
“His game, from where he started to where he is now, is trending very nicely,” Tippett said.
Chychrun scored his seventh goal of the season in the 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings on Thursday, which is the second-highest output among all first-year defensemen in the NHL. He also tied Joe Cirella and Jim Benning (1981-82) for the sixth-most goals in a season by an 18-year-old defenseman, according to TSN.
Overall, Chychrun has five points in his past four games – an outburst that highlights the offensive instincts with which he arrived after getting drafted 16th overall last summer, and also the strides he’s made in his own zone, where the focus has been to make better reads and figure out how best to react to situations.
“It’s something we worked on all year,” Chychrun said. “I think the main thought behind it is you’d rather be overaggressive than sit back and the let the play happen. They always tell me my skating is one of my best attributes. They want me to use it – not only jumping up in the play but in the D-zone, as well, closing in on pucks quick, closing on guys quick and just taking space away quick from skill players.”
This defending base is key; it’s what’s earned him more ice time and – subsequently – more opportunity to flex his offensive skills. But it’s also an essential part of the identity the Coyotes have in mind for him.
“We want him to be a real strong two-way defenseman, be able to put him out in critical situations,” Tippett said. “When you’re behind, he can play in those situations, too. That’s where I envision him, to be a very well-rounded player.”
Chychrun shares that vision, and after working with the coaches to fine-tune his play in his own end, he already feels he can sense when he’s made a mistake. He said he made a “tough read” on Detroit’s fourth goal Thursday and wanted to make up for it, which he did by sliding a shot through traffic later in the third to help the Coyotes snag a point.
“I’m able to kind of self-evaluate myself now, and I know when I’m doing something wrong or I know when I’m doing something right,” he said. “I’m at a good point now.”
Before the season started, management didn’t anticipate Chychrun being in the NHL. But he played his way onto the roster, and team brass came to the conclusion he’d be best-served developing with the Coyotes rather than back in junior.
Still, the Coyotes have closely monitored his journey because of his age. They wanted to challenge Chychrun but not overwhelm him. But they also haven’t felt he’s carried himself as an 18-year-old – perhaps, in part, because of his upbringing, as Chychrun’s dad, Jeff, logged parts of eight seasons in the NHL.
“He’s a mature young man,” Tippett said. “An 18-year-old that is concerned about getting enough rest, concerned about his nutrition, concerned about watching video of himself playing – not a lot of 18-year-old kids do that. He’s a very dedicated athlete that way.”
Adapting to the league, however, has still been a process.
At the beginning of the season, Chychrun was excited to be with the Coyotes but also nervous. He concentrated on his play and making sure he turned in solid performances. After being a healthy scratch five times in November (a timeout issued by the coaching staff to help Chychrun’s transition), he had to rebuild his confidence.
Now, though, he feels comfortable. Chychrun recognizes who he’s on the ice with and what type of plays he should be making – an awareness that’s upped his urgency and intensity to the point that he’s focused on having an impact on the game each and every shift.
“I feel good about my game right now,” he said.
Gaining this experience at 18 is a testament to Chychrun’s talent and an encouraging sign of potentially what’s to come.
But the expectation that he has to continue to evolve won’t disappear once he turns 19 March 31.
“However I end this year, I have to be better than that next year,” Chychrun said. “Same thing after that. So there’s always going to be pressure here, and then there’s hopefully going to be pressure on us to win every year soon. So the pressures will keep building, and that’s something as as players we all love and we all embrace.”
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 602-444-8276. Follow her at twitter.com/azc_mclellan.
Saturday’s game
Blues at Coyotes
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Gila River Arena.
TV/radio: Fox Sports Arizona/KMVP-FM (98.7).
Coyotes update: Captain Shane Doan didn’t practice Friday and remains day-to-day with a lower-body injury he suffered Thursday. He hasn’t been ruled out for Saturday’s game but is doubtful to play, coach Dave Tippett said. Defenseman Luke Schenn, who left Thursday’s game with an upper-body injury after going head-first into the boards, practiced Friday and is fine, Tippett said.
Blues update: This is the fourth stop on a five-game road trip for the Blues, who grabbed a 4-1 win in San Jose on Thursday against the Sharks. Before that, St. Louis opened their trip with a victory over the Kings before losing to the Ducks. Overall, the Blues have won six of their last seven games. They also have a four-point lead over the Kings for the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference. Winger Vladimir Tarasenko leads the team in goals (34) and points (63). Between the pipes, goalie Jake Allen is 26-19-3 with a .910 save percentage and 2.53 goals-against average.