Coyotes Season Thread

[coyoteshockeyfan]

In former Coyote news, Brian Boucher got a shutout in his first NHL game this season with San Jose as they beat the Blues 2-0. Good for Boucher, he was always a favorite of mine and it is nice to see him back in the NHL.

Ladislav Nagy is considering season ending surgery due to a neck injury that has kept him out for the last month. He has just 26 points in 35 games this season for LA. The Coyotes were wise to trade him close to the deadline last season, as he really hasn't done much since and they got a pretty good return for him (a first round pick plus Tjarnqvist).

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

By the way, Ovechkin scored his 50th goal the other night with a first period hat trick, then tonight he scores another two goals to put him at 54 for the year. Right now, he's simply the best player on the planet.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Good win by the Coyotes tonight in order to pull within 3 points of that elusive 8th playoff spot. Peter Mueller picked up his 20th goal of the season, and Doan added his 21st. Tomorrow night's game against Montreal is critical if Phoenix is going to make a run. Game time against the Habs is 7pm and is televised on AZTV.

 

[Scott MS]

5 game homestand starts tonight vs. Canadiens (as noted above). Let's hope the Coyotes can win 4 of them and get back into the playoff hunt.

Canadiens
Senators
Ducks
Canucks
Oilers

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Four Coyotes are ranked for The Hockey News' Top 50 Prospects:

Kyle Turris (#2)
Brett MacLean (#47)
Blake Wheeler (#57)
Kevin Porter (#60)

 

[NightHawk11and81]

Thank God for trips to the desert. Just what the Sens needed.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The two losses against tough but winnable opponents in Montreal and Ottawa has probably ended the Coyotes playoff chances. They are now 5 points behind 8th place Vancouver, who have played one game less than the Coyotes. Right now I think the goal should be to give guys like Enver Lisin some playing time to see how they fit in to next season's plans. Even calling up Al Montoya for a start or two would not be crazy, even though I still don't quite see what the plan is with him. He has played really well so far for San Antonio, only 5 goals allowed in 3 starts for a .943 save percentage.

 

[Scott MS]

Nice win last night against the Ducks. As much as I figured the playoff chances have slipped away, I heard Panger say last night that the next two out of three against Vancouver are must wins.

He's right. Vancouver sits in 8th place, 5 points ahead of the Coyotes. The Yotes need to win both games and play better than Vancouver and Nashville for the remainder of the season, to make the post season.

 

[Scott MS]

Here's what left. Two each against the Ducks, Sharks, Stars, Kings, Canucks, and Oilers. I guess the NHL wanted to finish out the schedule against the division. The final 8 are against division rivals -- one home and one away against each.

Canucks
Oilers
@Canucks
@Oilers
Kings
Ducks
Sharks
@Kings
@Sharks
Stars
@Stars
@Ducks

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Here's what left. Two each against the Ducks, Sharks, Stars, Kings, Canucks, and Oilers. I guess the NHL wanted to finish out the schedule against the division. The final 8 are against division rivals -- one home and one away against each.

Canucks
Oilers
@Canucks
@Oilers
Kings
Ducks
Sharks
@Kings
@Sharks
Stars
@Stars
@Ducks

That's good news considering the Coyotes' record against the division rivals compared to the rest of the NHL. Hope they can do it!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The Coyotes just won't say die. Thanks to a Bryzgalov 2-0 shutout of Vancouver, they are now three points behind the Canucks for that 8th playoffs spot. With the Oilers (twice), Canucks, and Kings upcoming, basically all four of those games are almost certainly must wins if the Coyotes want to keep the postseason dream alive.

 

[Mulli]

Come on Yotes, I need a team to follow in the playoffs.

 

[PDXChris]

Looking at the last 11 games I like next 4 games a lot, but they also scare the heck out of me. We play a poor Edmonton team twice and we travel to Vancouver which is good for this team since they love the road and then we finish is off against the Kings. If we get 4 out of 4, we have a good chance to have the 8th spot since we are trailing Vacouver by 3 points who currently hold the 8th spot. Nashville is 1 point up, but has played 1 more games.

I am bolding who we should beat and who I think we will beat.

Sat, Mar 15 Edmonton
Mon, Mar 17 @ Vancouver
Tue, Mar 18 @ Edmonton
Thu, Mar 20 LA Kings
Sat, Mar 22 Anaheim
Tue, Mar 25 San Jose
Thu, Mar 27 @ LA Kings
Sun, Mar 30 @ San Jose
Thu, Apr 3 Dallas
Fri, Apr 4 @ Dallas
Sun, Apr 6 @ Anaheim

8-3 gets us in!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Scott MS]

Great game last night. I think the number of must wins doesn't matter as much as the fact that it's a five team race for 6th, 7th, and 8th place. Minnesota is on a massive slide down the standings and may drop out of the playoffs if their trend continues. Here's the current standings for 6th, 7th' and 8th place:

6. Minnesota 82 points
7. Calgary 82 points
8. Vancouver 80 points
----------------------
9. Nashville 78 points
10. Phoenix 77 points

Given that Phoenix is within 5 points of 6th place, they really only need to win 3 more games than two of the teams ahead of them in the standings. You have to hope the Yotes can get a little winning streak going while Vancouver and Minnesota keep tanking.

 

[Scott MS]

Also, every division is finishing the season playing their entire division twice. Calgary, Minnesota, and Vancouver have a whole bunch of games coming up against each other.

On the flip side, the Coyotes have to play 6 games against Dallas, San Jose, and Anaheim.

 

[nash2crosby]

Although I'm a Canuck fan from Victoria, I'm a 'Yote second and rooting for either team. Don't count Edmonton easy though, they're playing loose and are acting as real spOILERS right now.

 

[nash2crosby]

PS: Can anybody tell me whether or not Steve Nash ever goes to Coyotes games. Has he ever scrimmaged with the team?

 

[Scott MS]

The Coyotes are taking the right approach and focusing on each game, one at time. They are certainly in the hunt, but they need to win as many games as possible to keep their chances at making the playoffs.

The Northwest Division may hold their fate. With Edmonton coming on strong lately and Colorado taken the top spot in the division, each of these teams will finish with 8 games against the other division teams. Every one those games will be critical to determining who will make the playoffs. Surely, one or two of the Northwest Division teams will get beaten down in these final 8 games. Who will it be?

Colorado
Calgary
Minnesota
Vancouver
Edmonton

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Unfortunately, 9th place Nashville just won their game today. Stupid Detroit can't win when we need them to.

 

[howlincoyote2k1]

I hate the Detroit Red Wings and the Dallas Stars.

A lot.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Well, it could be worse for the Coyotes. Our goaltender could do this...

 

[azsouthendzone]

Well, it could be worse for the Coyotes. Our goaltender could do this...

He might as well do that. How the hell do you give up 8 goals vs. Edmonton anyway?

 

[spikecop02]

Well, it could be worse for the Coyotes. Our goaltender could do this...

thats embarassing, your right it could be worse.

 

[Scott MS]

I think Edmonton is going to climb into the playoffs. I wish it was the Coyotes who were making the move, but all of Edmonton's games are against division opponents and they are hot right now.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Not settling for something as lowly as a hat trick, Yotes prospect Kevin Porter scored four goals for Michigan in tonight's 5-1 victory against Niagra in the NCAA tournament. Chad Kolarik, who is also a Coyotes prospect, assisted on all five of Michigan's goals. Michigan will next play Clarkson in the round of eight.