Coyotes Limp Into Skirmish

From the careful-what-you-say department.

Phoenix Coyote Coach Jim Schoenfeld: “Maybe we’re not finished getting even with them and it will cost us another game. Unlike them, we’re in the position where we can waste a few points.”

That was a month ago, when Schoenfeld complained about the Ducks’ chippy play, particularly defenseman Ruslan Salei. The Coyotes could indeed spare a point or two in the standings back then. Now, they might do well to practice a waste-not, want-not philosophy.

The Coyotes once led the Ducks by 17 points. Now, two points separate them heading into tonight’s showdown and, to be sure, it is a showdown.

This goes beyond the battle for possible home-ice advantage. The rivalry between the Coyotes and Ducks has been heated and picked up steam when Salei tripped Daniel Briere during an October exhibition game.

Briere suffered a concussion. Salei was suspended for five regular-season games and fined $1,000. He has lived under not-so-veiled threats of revenge from the Coyotes.

TONIGHT

at Phoenix, 6 PST

Channel 9

* Site--America West Arena.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 30-26-10, Coyotes 31-24-10.

* Record vs. Coyotes--2-0-2.

* Update--The Coyotes added depth on the fly this week. They acquired defenseman Jamie Huscroft from Vancouver on Monday. Thursday they strengthened their goaltending situation by getting former Duck Mikhail Shtalenkov.