2010-2011 season thread

[Lefty]

Hopefully the Coyotes can keep this winning streak going. Bryz is "En Fuego!"

 

[MigratingOsprey]

I went to the Coyotes-Oilers game today, it was a lot of fun and a nice win, however...

I'm frustrated though because boy oh boy does the organization do most of the little things wrong. They make it hard to be a fan to say the least.

First off was the miserable process of trying to find a long sleeve, reasonably price, Coyotes shirt for the game. How hard should this be? I checked multiple Targets, WalMarts, Big 5s, Sports Authorities, Just Sports, 3 different Malls (PV, Scottsdale & Desert Ridge) to no avail. Finally I found a white thermal style long sleeve at the Just Sports at Westgate (the 'Yotes own team shop had a dismal and outrageously priced selection) for $30 that wasn't even in my size (had to get an L instead of a M).

Then you get to the game, you have a little kid with you who wants to have some fun between periods, right? Well I hope the kid enjoys games like "game a straw in your eye socket" and "relish eating contest" because Jobing.com offers no amenities for children. "Howlers Corner" or whatever its called is just some posters on a wall that apparently the mascot visits on Saturdays. Really? You couldn't put in a jumpy house or a 'see how fast you can shoot a hockey puck' game or freaking anything? College facilities have these things, get with it.

Then of course the fact that the cheapest tickets to the arena cost more than the cheapest Suns tickets, who offer a better product, in an easier location, with a richer heritage, is mind numbing. No wonder your arena is 2/3rds empty, you're charging top flight prices for a 4th or 5th place (in terms of Valley fandom) product.

When it came time for the t-shirt toss the entire upper deck was more or less left out. At a Suns game the "Sunsationals" are in the upper deck tossing out shirts, staggered about every other section. Can't the Yotes have the Dog Pound or whatever their girls are called do the same?

What about a way to text in messages to a big board like a ton of stadiums have? Or texting in a picture of your kid that could be shown between periods on the big screen?

After the game as I walked out I expected the ushers to hand me a free voucher for a large McDonalds fry or something like the Suns do, but nope, it was an ad for Glendale glitters. Nothing for a win? How about the shut out? Nope, also nothing.

When you're offering a product thats not inherently popular in an area in a difficult to get to location, you can't do all the little things wrong. You've got to be flawless in those areas and the Coyotes just aren't. Hopefully the new ownership will be detail oriented and respond to fan input because the game day experience needs a lot of little tweaks.

This is a symptom of ownership and it's gotten worse as ownership continues to slip into a vacuum

Ticket prices are up this year - but still really aren't that bad .... promotions have dipped greatly this year though

With the uncertain ownership situation you also have uncertain attendance and corporate partnership ........ this can hurt some of the promos, activities, etc as well

They really need to get the ownership situation settled and then get a guy in charge who is excellent at connecting with the community .... it's a shame Tod Leiweke went from the seahawks/blazers/sounders to the Lightning this year ... he would of been excellent to have out here

 

[SunsTzu]

It is nice to have a good, young team in the valley. For however long they may stay.

Exactly how I feel. I've never been a big hockey fan, though I did watch them frequently the first few years in the valley.

I've gotten into it a lot more the past year. And even though I don't know much about hockey I really like the way the team has been built. Pretty impressive what can happen if you get people who know what they're doing and give them the control to do it. Wish other valley teams would do the same(particularly the Suns).

Obviously the team needs it's ownership situation resolved but I really hope they don't interfere with whats working in the front office.

 

[Jersey Girl]

They really need to get the ownership situation settled and then get a guy in charge who is excellent at connecting with the community

True that.

Nice to see the team at the top, even though there's a long way to go til the end of the season.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Terrible game by the boys last night. Jovo should have stayed ill for another game or two - the defense and the giveaways were a mess.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Yikes, another tough game. Shut out by the losers-of-5-in-a-row Preds. 2 PP goals and an EN. They need to right the ship quickly. Another game tomorrow.

 

[desertdawg]

Coyotes up 2-0 after the second period against the Wild, it's on FSNAZ if you got basic.

 

[Nasser22]

LaBarbera came up big, giving a struggling Bryz a breather. This was a huge game for us to win, but then again they all will be in this division.

Got my tix on stubhub for the Dec. 11th game. I became interested in hockey last season and trying to get my younger brother hookes as well.

 

[Lefty]

Nice win. Barbs came up big and they did a good job of penalty killing, especially in the beginning of the game. I also hope they keep the line of Doan, Upshall and Turris together. They played great.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

It was a good game last night - fantastic pass from Doan to Upshall on the second goal.

It bothers me that Jovo is the highest paid player on the team ($6M). I hope he is not extended this year. Time for the young guys to come up and stay up. Unfortunately, Aucoin still has another year - but he is a bargain compared to Jovo or perhaps could be trade material. I realize that the two are generally the pair playing the other top line, but it seems like they loaf it too often. Yandle is sloppy with the puck at times, but at least he is generally forcing the action. Any others here feel the same way, or am I out on a limb?

 

[Lefty]

Coyotes lose to Florida in a shootout. If they want to make the playoffs, they need to beat teams like the Panthers, especially at home.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Nice shutout win by the Yotes last night in Anahiem. Nice to pay back the Ducks for their victory in Glendale the other night.

 

[Lefty]

The Coyotes lost to a bad Devils team and then lost in a shootout to the Rangers. Lrt's hope they don't go a big losing streak.

Tom Fenton had a once in a lifetime experience last night. You ask, "who is Tom Fenton?" He was the Coyotes backup goalie last night.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=5927810

 

[Nasser22]

We look very sloppy...This has been a very disappointing east coast trip. Hopefully we can at least take care of business within our division.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Yotes get a much needed win over Dallas tonight to stop their losing skid at two games, and to remain 9 pts back of Dallas in the Pacific.

I sure hope the new ownership buys a top line. It seems like the Coyotes roll out 4th line after 4th line. I still enjoy watching them play, but always end up frustrated by poor execution of basic plays, poor spacing, errant shots, etc.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Coyotes lose to Anahiem at home - 3-1. It is difficult on most nights to watch this team - so many self-inflicted wounds. The second and third goals were complete lacks of concentration/fundamentals on defense. And of course, just sloppy offense yet again. It is no wonder they have difficulty filling the arena.

Ok, rant over, hopefully tomorrow night against the Kings will bring some satisfaction.

 

[desertdawg]

Coyotes lose to Anahiem at home - 3-1. It is difficult on most nights to watch this team - so many self-inflicted wounds. The second and third goals were complete lacks of concentration/fundamentals on defense. And of course, just sloppy offense yet again. It is no wonder they have difficulty filling the arena.

Ok, rant over, hopefully tomorrow night against the Kings will bring some satisfaction.

It's been hard to watch. I thought our coach was going to stop this style of play, he jad some success last year.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Nice win (6-3) over the Kings in a game that was fun to watch, mainly for the performances of the young guys. Bryz was a little soft in the first, then was finally back. The line of Turris, Boedker, and MacLean (call-up, goal in first NHL game) was inspiring, and Doan played well.
<Gary Bender voice>Maybe this will get them going.</Gary Bender voice>

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Coyotes get down 4-0 before trying to do something about it, but lose 4-3 in St. Louis. Bryz was a little soft again. If he doesn't bring it every night, this team doesn't make the playoffs. When he is on, we have a punchers chance.

 

[Lefty]

Coyotes get down 4-0 before trying to do something about it, but lose 4-3 in St. Louis. Bryz was a little soft again. If he doesn't bring it every night, this team doesn't make the playoffs. When he is on, we have a punchers chance.

They have to beat the teams they should or they won't make the playoffs. It is nice to see Doan is starting to heat up. Let's hope they can start a winning streak for the new year.

 

[Nasser22]

Why is our D so poor? Wasn't that a strength of ours last year?

 

[Lefty]

Minnesota scores a goal with 26 seconds left and then beats the Coyotes in overtime. These are the games they were winning last year.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

LaBarbera was pretty poor in that game. His previous "ok" play (stellar for a backup, outside of a few games) really took a hit in this one. Again, defensive lapses (and not always by the defensemen) are just killing this team. Not sure if a shakeup is in order, but I would like to get rid of the older defensemen and play some youth who want to expend the energy.

 

[desertdawg]

Coyotes are looking good tonight.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Well, the season is basically half way over and the Coyotes are as of right now 1 point away from the 4th seed and 1 point away from missing the playoffs entirely. The west is ridiculous.