‘Yotes Notes: Brendan Perlini could play Thursday

NEW YORK — Coyotes forward Brendan Perlini passed his baseline test on Wednesday and could be in the lineup Thursday when the Coyotes face the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Perlini had been on injured reserve since suffering a concussion on Oct. 10 in the first period of a 5-2 loss in Las Vegas, but the Coyotes removed the IR designation Wednesday afternoon. To make room for him on the roster, the Coyotes assigned forward Lawson Crouse to Tucson of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.

Coach Rick Tocchet said he would evaluate Perlini at Thursday’s morning skate before making a decision on his availability against the Rangers.

The Coyotes could use more scoring. They were 29th in the NHL at 2.33 goals per game heading into Wednesday’s games, ahead of only Montreal (1.89) and Edmonton (1.88).

NO CHANGES

Following a franchise worst 0-8-1 start that tied the 2002-03 Atlanta Thrashers and 2005-06 Pittsburgh Penguins for the second longest losing streak to start a season in NHL history, Coyotes general manager John Chayka reaffirmed that no changes are coming to the coaching staff or roster.

“Staying the course,” he said. “Hoping to get healthy sooner than later.”

RAANTA PRACTICES/SKATES

Starting goalie Antti Raanta took part in practice, including team drills on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden, but he is not ready to return to the lineup against one of his two former teams on Thursday.

Tocchet has not decided on a goalie against the Rangers but there is a strong possibility he goes back to Adin Hill after Louis Domingue allowed five goals on 25 shots in a 5-3 loss to the New Islanders on Tuesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Domingue has allowed 24 goals on 169 shots this season for an .858 save percentage, which ranks 44th in the NHL out of 49 goalies with stats. His 4.36 goals against average ranks 46th.

Seven of the team’s nine losses have been by two goals or less — three have been by one goal. Other issues have plagued the Coyotes beyond goaltending, but there is an internal belief that the team could have two or three wins if the goaltending had been better.

STAT PACK

Aside from goals scored per game (mentioned above), the Coyotes rank 19th in the NHL in shots per game (31.1), 31st (last) in goals against per game (4.33), 16th in shots against per game (32.3), 22nd on the power play (15.2 percent), and 29th on the penalty kill at 72 percent.

Coyotes at Rangers

When: 4 p.m., Thursday
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Radio: ESPN 620 AM
Records: Coyotes — 0-8-1. Rangers — 2-6-2.

Injury report: Coyotes — D Jakob Chychrun (knee) and F Brendan Perlini (upper body) are on injured reserve. G Antti Raanta (lower body) is day-to-day. Rangers — None.

Rangers scouting report: — New York is 1-2-2 on a season-long six-game homestand, which ends in this game. New York has the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference … The Coyotes have not won at Madison Square Garden since a 5-1 victory in the 2007-08 season. They are 0-5-3 at MSG since then … C Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers with six goals and F J.T. Miller leads New York with eight points … Henrik Lundqvist has a 3.11 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.

Related

NHL’s Bill Daly says league has had talks with Phoenix for potential expansion teamDiamondbacks top pick Ryder Helfrick gets major league preview: ‘It was unreal’USHL announces 2 expansion teams coming to ArizonaNHL exploring expansion locations, Arizona not at forefrontCoyotes legend Keith Tkachuk elected to Hockey Hall of Fame after sons become teammatesToronto Maple Leafs win the lottery for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft