Friday is a big night for hockey in Arizona, and not just because a certain rookie is in town.
The Arizona Coyotes‘ last game before the holiday break will give captain Shane Doan a couple of opportunities to reach new career milestones.
Doan will play in his 1500th career game Friday night when the Coyotes take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at home, making him just the 17th player in NHL history to reach that mark.
Even more impressive is that Doan has played every single one of those games with the same franchise, a feat that’s nearly unheard of in today’s NHL.
Doan enters his 1500th game sitting on 399 career goals. He last scored Dec. 3 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and has had some good chances at No. 400 a few times over the last 10 games.
The irony isn’t lost on anyone that Doan’s big night happens to coincide with the first homecoming game for star rookie Auston Matthews.
Matthews, who grew up in Scottsdale, idolized the Coyotes captain as he made his way up in the hockey world.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston told Hockey Central at Noon Friday that while hockey is still a small sport in Arizona, Matthews has generated a lot of interest in the game, and even landed the Coyotes on the front page of local newspapers.
While Matthews won’t be playing for the home team, it’s a pretty safe bet many in the stands will still be rooting for him.
“In some ways more focus and more pressure on Auston in a game like this one than even his first NHL game. Its almost like a wedding. Everyone he knows is going to be in the stands,” said Johnston.
Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said he wants Matthews to soak it all in and enjoy himself as he plays in front of family and friends for the first time where it all began, and even has him on the Leafs’ starting lineup.
Whether fans are there to cheer on Doan, Matthews, or both, you can bet the atmosphere in Glendale will be electric on Friday night.
Now the real question is, who will Doan’s son be cheering for tonight?
