Projecting when Coyotes will earn 1st win

As the NHL season hits the three-week mark, the only team without a win is the Arizona Coyotes.

These desert dogs have whimpered their way to a record of 0-8-1, and are currently in the midst of a lengthy Eastern Conference road trip that won't provide many opportunities to pick up their first victory.

Related - By the numbers: Winless Coyotes an all-around disaster

Here's a look at the Coyotes' upcoming opportunities to finally get it done.

Oct. 26 at Rangers

The Rangers have not been world-beaters in the early going. After these clubs teamed up for a big offseason trade, maybe Derek Stepan will have added incentive to beat the Rangers while the injured Antti Raanta cheers from the sidelines. Also working in Arizona's favor: Ondrej Pavelec is scheduled to start. This could very well be where the losing ends.

Oct. 28 at Devils

Both the Devils and Coyotes entered the season with high hopes of making good on long rebuilds, but only the former has been a pleasant early-season surprise. New Jersey shows no signs of slowing down, and Nico Hischier and Will Butcher are giving Clayton Keller a run for his money in the Calder Trophy race to boot.

Oct. 30 at Flyers

A revamped top line built of Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, and Sean Couturier is performing at a high level for the Flyers. There are some holes on defense and in net that the Coyotes could take advantage of, but Philadelphia is looking to get back in the postseason and knows the dangers of dropping points against a lesser team.

Oct. 31 at Red Wings

So will the Coyotes win in October? Maybe on Halloween. The Red Wings looked like a safe bet to be one of the weaker teams in the Eastern Conference this season, but unfortunately for the Coyotes, they've been better than anticipated. There may be no treats in Detroit, especially with Arizona on the second night of a back-to-back.

Nov. 2 vs. Sabres

The safest bet for Arizona's first win, then, might be their next game at Gila River Arena. The Sabres look very beatable once again, and there's nothing like a little home cooking to get the good times rolling.

If they can't defeat Buffalo, though, getting that first W won't get any easier afterward.

Time to have your say:

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)