Phoenix Coyotes Season Thread - January

[PDXChris]

5-2 win against Dallas. Make it 7 in a row and 17 out of the last 18 possible points.

Coyotes are also .500 with a 20-20-2 record. Not really .500 by the record, but have earned 42 points in 42 games (have earned .500 of the possible points). They are on track for 82 points this season in 82 games played.

and they are 18-12-2 since starting 2-8. One of the best since then

 

[howlincoyote2k1]

Wow. Three points out of the playoffs, trailing the Avs and Wild by three points, and 10th place Edmonton by two. We have to hope these teams continue to beat each other up, but we just have to hope that those nasty annoying 3-point games are kept to a minimum.

GO YOTES GO!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Only three points out of the last playoff spot, and 17 out of the last 18 possible points. Per a stat on Versus, the Coyotes become only the fifth team in the last twenty seasons to sweep a five game (or longer) road trip. At least two of those teams won Stanley Cups, I haven't found out about the others.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Jovocop was a rock tonight. Not only did he have the goal and the assist plus five hits, he lead the team in total ice time. When your team is dead tired at the end of a long road trip it is critical that your top defenseman racks up a lot of quality minutes, and Jovo did that perfectly.

Tellqvist once again put on a show. Barnett did a great job getting this guy for only Tyson Nash and a fourth round pick. Telly came under a lot of pressure again tonight and shut the door when he had to. Only two goals on 31 shots tonight, he is one of the biggest reasons why the Coyotes have completely turned around their season.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I am afraid this streak is about to end.

I was out of the country between December 22 and January 9, so it looks as if the team will only win when I can't watch. LOL.

 

[Dback Jon]

I am afraid this streak is about to end.

I was out of the country between December 22 and January 9, so it looks as if the team will only win when I can't watch. LOL.

Then we are going to have to kidnap and hide you in a cave with no TV....

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Joel Perrault was demoted to San Antonio, and scored a goal as well as a shootout goal in his first game tonight. With the added roster space, Boynton and Fischer should be ready to go tomorrow.

 

[Scott MS]

I was fooled. I bought tickets to tonights Sharks game thinking this team had turned the corner, but they are back to where they were before the 7 game streak. They're heading nowhere fast. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think so based on what I saw tonight.

 

[Scott MS]

After watching the three game home stand and attending games on Saturday and Monday, I was happy the Coyotes came away with 2 points.

I have realized that the three teams that the Coyotes played were all hot. Detroit is on a streak, San Jose is on a streak, and the Blues just beat the Ducks last night 6-2 and are 7-2-1 in the last 10, and climbing.

The Western Conference is a tough conference and seems that many teams are in the hunt for the last playoff spots. With around 38 games left for each team, this will be a dogfight and it won't be determined prior to the trading deadline.

Tonights game at Colorado will be huge as will next week's game in Colorado.

6. Dallas 46 games, 55 points
7. Calgary 44 games, 52 points
8. Minnesota 47 games, 51 points
-----------------
9. Edmonton 46 games, 48 points
10. Colorado 45 games, 47 points
11. Phoenix 45 games, 44 points
12. St. Louis 46 games, 42 points
13. Chicago 46 games, 41 points
14. Columbus 46 games, 39 points
15. Los Angeles 48 games, 38 points

Coyotes next 10:
1/17 @ Colorado
1/18 @ San Jose
1/20 @ Los Angeles
All-Star Break
1/26 @ Colorado
1/27 Pittsburgh
1/31 @ Anaheim
2/1 Nashville
2/3 Minnesota
2/6 @ Columbus
2/7 @ Detroit

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Tempers flared Tuesday during practice when a verbal exchange between Ed Jovanovski and Josh Gratton resulted in a fist fight between the two. After trading a few good blows, the two were separated and each stayed on the ice for the remainder of practice. Jovanovski and Gratton, who got the worst of it and was left with a few red marks on his face, declined to comment afterward. Both are available for today’s game

Wowzers, I wonder what went on there.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=82449

 

[MigratingOsprey]

that was a fun one and if the report above is true, gratton has had a rough couple of days

doan, jovanovski & nolan all had very good games last night in my opinion - when doan plays like that he's one of the leagues best

also loved ballard making a run at marleau, only to have patrick absorb the hit and ballard sprawl to the ice

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

An old friend gets the start for the Kings tonight, Sean Burke. He had been playing in the AHL until picked up on waivers by LA last week. Tonight is also the jersey retirement ceremony for Luc Robitaille (hence the 9PM start), so the Kings will probably have some jump. The Coyotes need a win tonight in the worst way.

 

[Scott MS]

Game ended around midnight, but the Coyotes prevailed 3-2. Nice win to head into the All-Star break.

Can't wait to see these new NHL RBK Edge uniforms.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Looking ahead to this summer, it looks like the Coyotes are in fact going to make a serious run at Todd Bertuzzi. I just hope they don't give him too large of a contract.

Interesting quote from Phoenix blueliner Ed Jovanovski, who told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that the Coyotes could take a run at signing his good buddy and former Canucks teammate Todd Bertuzzi when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this off-season.

“I know some significant people (in Phoenix) really like Todd," Jovanovski said. "That's a decision he's going to have to make. (Coach) Wayne (Gretzky) had him in the Olympics. Todd always had his bags packed a few days early when we went to Phoenix. He's always liked the area.”

http://www.thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=23202

 

[Scott MS]

Nice OT win last night in Colorado. Gretzky has stated his team needs to win about 3/4 of thier remaining games to make it to the playoffs. This is probably a overstated, but they need to start winning. Tonights game vs. Pittsburgh should be a good one. The next 6 will determine where this team stands in the playoff race.

1/27 Pittsburgh
1/31 @ Anaheim
2/1 Nashville
2/3 Minnesota
2/6 @ Columbus
2/7 @ Detroit

 

[Kel Varnsen]

What time does the arena open? 6:00?

I can't find the information on the Coyotes site.

 

[boondockdrunk]

I am heading to the game tonight with my two roommates (one of which is a Penguins fan). It should be fun.

 

[Scott MS]

Doors always open 1 1/2 hours before game time, which will be 5:30 p.m. The pre-game warmups start at about 6:35 p.m.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

After a solid win last night by the Coyotes, including two by Yanic Perreault, tonight's game against the Pens should be a great one. This has been the one game all year that I have wanted to attend more than any other.

 

[howlincoyote2k1]

That......sucked.

I should have taken a roadtrip instead. I knew it.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

What.. a... game..

I'm a Penguin fan.. Pardon my excitement. That Crosby shot was even better live.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Garbage effort by a garbage team, which I guess shouldn't be so surprising. After pulling out close games against LA and Colorado they had a chance to get something going and begin to right the ship. But instead, the Coyotes did what they have done all year when given a good opportunity, they collapsed and gave a mailed in effort. The team didn't just fall flat on their faces, they were completely embarrassed in their own building by a team that quite frankly isn't even that good.

The Pens played Thibault in net last night who is probably one of the worst backups in the league. Between that and the Pens porous defense the Coyotes should have been smelling blood. A quick shot, a few early chances is all it would have taken to put a little pressure on Thibault. Instead, the Coyotes come out with zero energy and are fishing the puck out of the net in the first thirty seconds of the game.

Tellqvist had his worst outing as a Coyote last night and has been struggling as of late. Any time a talentless hack like Jarkko Ruutu scores a goal you know you're in trouble. Unfortunately, this has been the problem with Tellqvist in Toronto as well. He would be very impressive in short bursts but would then disappear once the workload started to grow. I am hopeful that he will start to find some consistency, but the longer this goes on the less it looks like a fluke and the more it looks like a trend. We need to find out whether or not Telly will be a viable option as a starter for next year and beyond. Cujo will not be back next season, and sifting through the leftover pile in free agency for the most important piece of your team isn't the most promising of situations.

There are now twelve games before the trade deadline. To have any chance at the playoffs the Coyotes would need to win at least seven of those games to have a legitimate chance. With Anaheim, Nashville, and Detroit comprising of six of those games, the odds are bleak. Nagy, Doan, Nolan, Perreault, and Joseph are the five biggest free agents on the team. With so many free agents to be, the Coyotes have the golden chance to tremendously accelerate the rebuilding process. GMs at the trade deadline immensely overpay for talent to make their Cup run. Trading our free agents would finally give us the chance to build a team the correct way. And honestly, this team will never, ever go anywhere if its (supposed) best players are Shane Doan and Ladislav Nagy.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Good post, chf. Is it possible that the Penguins have one player who has more offensive talent than the entire Coyotes team?

It took 24 seconds to know that game was going to be a disaster, but at least it was entertaining to watch the Penguins move the puck.

Oh, and the NHL really needs to change its scheduling so that the fans in every city of the league get to see Crosby at least once.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Right winger Bill Thomas was recalled by the Coyotes today. With no word of an injury, a trade could be coming soon, although the Coyotes I believe do have a roster spot to spare. Thomas has put up 13 goals and 20 assists in 47 games for San Antonio, which is pretty good given how terrible that team is.

Defenseman Keith Yandle will take Bill's place at the AHL All Star Game.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

As it turns out, Scatchard is out indefinitely with a concussion which is the reason for the Thomas call up.