New Westminster's Kyle Turris is expected to play his first game for the Phoenix Coyotes since agreeing to terms with the parent club last week.
Turris started the NHL season on the holdout list and had asked through his agent for a trade, but settled for a two-year deal worth a total of $2.8 million just before the Nov. 30 contract deadline.
Phoenix is in Winnipeg tonight for a tilt against the relocated Jets.
Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett indicated that there is a possibility that center Kyle Turris could make his season debut tonight.
The Coyotes arrived in their ancestral home on a two-game winning streak to play a Winnipeg club that they beat 4-1 in their home-opener, back on Oct. 15.
After netting just one goal in his first nine games, Radim Vrbata is on a tear for the Coyotes, scoring 11 goals in his past 14 games. Tuesday in Chicago, Vrbata had a goal and an assist, his sixth multi-point game this season.
The Coyotes have excelled away from home this season en route to producing the Western Conference's second-best road mark (7-3-1). They've allowed only 19 goals in their past 10 road games.
Here are Phoenix's projected lines and pairings for tonight:
Ray Whitney - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata
Mikkel Boedker - Daymond Langkow - Shane Doan
Taylor Pyatt - Boyd Gordon - Lauri Korpikoski
Raffi Torres - Kyle Chipchura/Kyle Turris - Patrick O'Sullivan
Keith Yandle - Derek Morris
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Adrian Aucoin
Rostislav Klesla - David Schlemko
Mike Smith will start in net for Phoenix, with Jason LaBarbera the backup.
With files from Patrick Williams NHL.com
