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Coyotes welcome Ducks to the desert

Jan 31, 2012 - 4:14 PM (Sports Network) - The Phoenix Coyotes hope their victory prior to the All- Star break can get them headed in the right direction, while the Anaheim Ducks will try to avoid falling back into a rut that plagued a good portion of their first half.

Phoenix looks to record consecutive wins for the first time in over a month against a visiting Anaheim club that had a nine-game point streak snapped right before the break.

The Coyotes enter this meeting in a tie for 10th in the West with 52 points, three back of a playoff spot. They have won just two of their last eight games and have struggled to win the close ones as of late. In Phoenix's six most recent setbacks, two were one-goal losses in regulation and three others came in a shootout.

However, the 'Yotes did pick up a tight 3-2 win over Ottawa a week ago, one that goaltender Mike Smith hopes will create some momentum. Phoenix hasn't won two straight since Dec. 20-21.

"This was a huge two points for our team," said Smith after making 32 saves. "We've been playing good hockey lately but just weren't able to get that win, so we needed to have this game. We feel pretty good right now."

One Phoenix skater who certainly feels good is defenseman Keith Yandle, who skated for Team Alfredsson in Sunday's 12-9 loss to Team Chara in the All-Star Game. That stats weren't pretty for Yandle -- one assist and a minus-5 rating -- but he enjoyed the trip to Ottawa nonetheless.

"Nobody likes losing, but it was a good weekend and it was a good show," Yandle said on Phoenix's website. "You just hope the fans got what they paid for."

The Coyotes played their final three games before the break at home and begin another three-game stay tonight. They haven't played on the road since Jan. 18 and won't do so again until Feb. 7.

The Ducks, meanwhile, played their last game before the All-Star hiatus on the road and remain the guest tonight. They had won a season-high five straight and had points in nine in a row (8-0-1) before suffering a 1-0 loss in Dallas. Anaheim had outscored its opponents 20-7 over the five-game win streak.

With its recent run of points, the Ducks have climbed to within nine points of Phoenix, Calgary and Dallas in the Western standings.

Anaheim, which will play four in a row at home following this game, is 3-1-2 in its past six on the road and will welcome back leading goal-scorer Corey Perry after his trip to the All-Star Game. Perry leads the Ducks with 22 goals and had a goal and an assist for Team Chara.

Perry is also second on the club with 39 points, six back of forward Teemu Selanne, while goaltender Jonas Hiller has posted a 5-1-1 mark, 1.29 goals- against average and .954 save percentage in his past seven games. He stopped 16-of-17 shots in the loss to the Stars.

The Coyotes had won their first two encounters with the Ducks this season to stretch their series win streak to four in a row, but the Ducks have won the past two meetings -- both in Anaheim -- by a 10-3 margin. That includes a 6-2 win on Jan. 18 in the most recent battle, with defenseman Francois Beauchemin leading a balanced Anaheim attack with two goals and an assist.

Phoenix has won six of its past eight at home versus Anaheim.