Coyotes Season Thread

[coyoteshockeyfan]

That crashing sound you've been hearing is the Coyotes free falling back to earth.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

That crashing sound you've been hearing is the Coyotes free falling back to earth.

Too premature to sound the alarm. They were in a tough hostile environment against the division leader...Also minus their captain....

It's unfortunate that they've had some major injuries at the most inopportune time (especially Hanzal who was performing at an all-star level) and the fact that Vrbata has been enduring some lingering ailments as of late.

I just hope that the Yotes can add 1 veteran forward at the trading deadline, but obviously not mortgaging any integral part of their future.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Too premature to sound the alarm. They were in a tough hostile environment against the division leader...Also minus their captain....

It's unfortunate that they've had some major injuries at the most inopportune time (especially Hanzal who was performing at an all-star level) and the fact that Vrbata has been enduring some lingering ailments as of late.

I just hope that the Yotes can add 1 veteran forward at the trading deadline, but obviously not mortgaging any integral part of their future.

It isn't just this game that has me concerned, its that they have now lost six of their last seven. That includes failing to hold late leads against Dallas, Detroit, and Calgary (where they were up 3-0). I understand that those are some good teams and all, but those are the kind of points the Coyotes can't afford to let slip away. Now I am still hopeful that they can turn it around (getting Doan, Vrbata, and Bryzgalov back into their groove would be huge), but the truth is that the team played above their skill level for so long that they were probably due for an adjustment. However, even if the Coyotes fall short this year, in the next season or two they could become very scary with Kyle Turris, Kevin Porter, Blake Wheeler, and Brett MacLean all lighting it up in their respective programs.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Three point nights for Vrbata (1G, 2A), Doan (1G, 2A) and Reinprecht (3A) in tonights 5-2 victory over Dallas. Nice to see that kind of production from the team's offensive go to players. The team needed a big win to snap their skid, now its time to build some momentum.

 

[Scott MS]

Momentum can be built with a home game Saturday against the Kings, a road game Monday against the Kings, then Tuesday at home against the Flames (a team the Coyotes have played well against all season).

Here's the next 7:

Kings
@Kings
Flames
Avalanche
Blues
@Blackhawks
@Blues

 

[MigratingOsprey]

i was at the game last night and it was a nice win for sure - weird flow to the game though - attendance was pretty spotty as well

as usual had a blast - really a great arena and I'm hoping the 'yotes can sneak into the playoffs this year - they have a pretty important stretch coming up

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Interesting note: For Doan's breakout month of January, he was playing with an undisclosed broken hand.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/0215coyotesnb0215.html

 

[Darth Llama]

I'm going to the Kings game tonight, Hopefully they play better then they have the last few games I went to. The home opener is the only game out of 6 that I have been to this year where they have won.

Maybe I'm bad luck.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Gretzky got his 99th career victory tonight, as the Coyotes have now won all five games against the Kings this season. Phoenix is now one point behind 8th place Colorado and four behind 6th place Nashville. They have to keep performing well for the rest of this month as there are a lot of winnable games, with LA (last place), Calgary (7th), Colorado (8th), St. Louis (12th) and Chicago (14th) on the schedule.

 

[Scott MS]

Gretzky got his 99th career victory tonight, as the Coyotes have now won all five games against the Kings this season. Phoenix is now one point behind 8th place Colorado and four behind 6th place Nashville. They have to keep performing well for the rest of this month as there are a lot of winnable games, with LA (last place), Calgary (7th), Colorado (8th), St. Louis (12th) and Chicago (14th) on the schedule.

Agreed. Out of the next 7, all are winnable games.

@Kings
Flames
Avalanche
Blues
@Blackhawks
@Blues
Flames

Then, the next 5 are a little tougher . . .

@Stars
Canadiens
Senators
Ducks
Canucks

Then, not so bad . . .

Oilers
@Canucks
@Oilers
Kings
Ducks
Sharks
@Kings

Then a tough finish with a playoff berth on the line!!

@Sharks
Stars
@Stars
@Ducks

 

[Darth Llama]

It was good to finally get to see another home win for the Coyotes. I went to the home opener that they won, and since then, I have been to 6 other games, all of which were loses. I was a little worried that they were going to give the game back last night, but they held on and we won.

Great game last night!

 

[puckhead]

Yotes give Gretz his 100th win. They looked fantastic in the first 40 minutes. Telly gets the shutout, Vrbata looks like the ankle is feeling better, and Jovo has been on a tear. Unfortunately, it was against the lowly Kings, but division wins still count for two. We're currently 7th in the conference! Big test tonight vs. Calgary, let's hope they come out hard with the forecheck and set the pace early. We owe the Flames after they stole two last time.

Carcillo's backhander was a gem, this kid could be amazing if he can keep himself out of the box. The fighting majors are fine, but these extra shots in scrums cannot happen if he wants to be effective.

 

[Scott MS]

Despite what Panger said on the broadcast last night and the article in the Republic, the Coyotes are actually in 9th place right now (based on the standing tiebreakers -- 1. points, 2. games played, 3. wins, 4. head-to-head, 5. goal differential). They are tied for 7th place in points (66) with both Calgary and Vancouver, but both of these teams have a game in hand. The Coyotes have 31 wins vs. 29 for both Calgary and Vancouver.

In the end, it will all change tonight against the Flames. A win will put the team into solo 7th place. A loss will put the Flames into 7th place.

But . . . it's nice to see the team go on a little run and get themselves back in it again. The next few games are all winnable. There are no more games this season against Detroit, Columbus, or Nashville.

 

[Scott MS]

Here's a summary of the 22 games that are left this season (60 are already in the bag):

Eastern Conference:
Canadiens (1)
Senators (1)

One Game Against:
Avalanche (1)
Blackhawks (1)

Two Games Against:
Blues (2)
Canucks (2)
Flames (2)
Kings (2)
Oilers (2)
Sharks (2)

Three Games Against:
Ducks (3)
Stars (3)

Going .500 in the remaining games will get the team 22 points, for a season ending total of 88. Gretzky and company thinks the team needs 95 to make the playoffs. Probably a good guess on his part, which would be 29 points in 22 games.

 

[puckhead]

Despite what Panger said on the broadcast last night and the article in the Republic, the Coyotes are actually in 9th place right now (based on the standing tiebreakers -- 1. points, 2. games played, 3. wins, 4. head-to-head, 5. goal differential). They are tied for 7th place in points (66) with both Calgary and Vancouver, but both of these teams have a game in hand. The Coyotes have 31 wins vs. 29 for both Calgary and Vancouver.

Thanks for the clarification.

I think we have a pretty good chance to hit 95+ points this year if we can stay healthy.

 

[puckhead]

Hanzal should be back in tonight which is great news for the Yotes. Let's get some points, boys.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

With tonight's victory against St. Louis, the Coyotes are now 3 points behind 7th place Vancouver and 8th place Nashville, with a game in hand on the Predators. Bryzgalov was great, stopping 35 shots to seal a 2-0 shutout. The Coyotes next play Chicago and St. Louis. Getting less than 3 points against those two would be disappointing, especially considering that the schedule gets much tougher after that.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

They only need to string together a few wins in a row and they'll have a better seed than the Suns. LMAO.

 

[Scott MS]

Several reports indicated that Vrbata is on the block today as the trade deadline approaches at 1:00 p.m. Apparently the Coyotes have been trying to sign Vrbata long term but he wants somewhere around $4M/yr.

Vrbata would be a free agent this summer if he is not re-signed.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

15 minutes before the trade deadline (not all of the trades will be announced by then though) and no Vrbata trade. Not a good day for the Coyotes though, as division foes have made a lot of moves. San Jose picked up Brian Campbell, and Dallas traded for Brad Richards. In addition, Colorado has traded for Adam Foote, plus they picked up Peter Forsberg as a free agent yesterday. Looks like Minnesota (6th place), Vancouver (7th), and Nashville (8th) have not made any big moves yet either.

 

[Scott MS]

Coyotes make a trade:

Coyotes send F Fredrik Sjostrom, F Josh Gratton, G David Leneveu to Rangers for F Marcel Hossa and G Al Montoya

Gratton and LeNeveu are minor leaguers who weren't going to work out. Freddy wasn't going to be around next year either. Montoya will be solid in San Antonio with Tjordman. Lots of people like LeNeveu, but he was being outplayed by Josh in San Antonio this season with little hope of making it to the big club.

Hossa is brother to Marian, and he can fill Sjostrom's spot for the rest of the year.

 

[puckhead]

I don't get this trade. Sjostrom is 2 years younger, and has 19 pts in 51 games. Hossa has 8 pts in 36 games? I guess Maloney should know what we're getting, but I'm .

Gratton had no chance with Carcillo coming in and David is pretty slow in developing, this is no big deal....but... three for two and Sjostrom seems like the best of all of them.

Maybe someone else has a better take on this???

 

[Scott MS]

While it was extremely disappointing to see the Coyotes get shut out on Wednesday night against the Hawks, the 2-1 win last night against the Blues was needed. Both goals game on the same powerplay, the first was 5-on-3 and the second was 5-on-4.

I think this next homestand will determine this team's playoff hopes for this season. Calgary at home, Dallas away, and then 5 games at home. All the games will be a battle. Ottawa is in a real slide ride now.

Flames
@Stars
Canadiens
Senators
Ducks
Canucks
Oilers

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Going to the game tonight.

Go Yotes !!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Agreed. Out of the next 7, all are winnable games.

@Kings
Flames
Avalanche
Blues
@Blackhawks
@Blues
Flames

Out of our seven winnable games here, the Coyotes went 3-4-1 for a grand total of seven points. That just isn't acceptable for a team with playoff aspirations. They had a perfect opportunity to build some momentum and get into one of those eight playoff spots, and blew it badly. Now they have a real tough climb ahead of them.