Road to the Playoffs thread

[Nasser22]

That really sucks. I hate the new CW and AZ-TV is really a crap channell for sports. Isn't that for high school football? Well, it's still better than putting it one Versus were most people won't be able to see it.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Looks like penalty kill is once again the bane of the team. Dumb penalties followed by a weak kill. That adds up to a 2-1 loss. WIll the last place (or close to it) penalty kill on home ice continue this season? Good thing the veterans are showing the youngsters how not to win a game against your division rival!

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

And by the way, are we gonna keep the entire season in one thread? Hockey is too great a sport for that!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

And by the way, are we gonna keep the entire season in one thread? Hockey is too great a sport for that!

I was thinking of breaking it up monthly, like the Dbacks season thread was a year or two ago, but I'm open to other ideas.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Tough loss last night to Anaheim. Even though they didn't get the win, they certainly looked better than they did in their 8 games against Anaheim last season even though Anaheim is greatly improved. Even though it was unfortunately against us, Selanne's tip in during the first period was a thing of beauty. Overall, I wasn't really impressed by Anaheim last night. I sure didn't see a team that is supposedly a Stanley Cup favorite. The Coyotes managed to really outplay them even in a loss. Last year Anaheim managed to ragdoll the Coyotes all over the rink, but last night Phoenix outmuscled them.

Phoenix also had more shots than the Ducks last night, but too many of them were from around the perimeter. They just couldn't get the puck to guys in the slot. I knew that if the Coyotes were going to win, the goals were going to have to come from their secondary scoring options with the Nagy - Reino - Doan line matched up against Anaheim's top defensive pair.

All three goals in the game came on the power play, and the Coyotes were woeful on special teams last year. I think the Coyotes power play will be better than last season, but the team is going to have to stay disciplined and not give up too many penalties. I am still concerned about the penalty kill but getting Sjostrom back soon will certainly help there.

Ballard looked good last night, as did Michalek who had the only goal. Its early but looks like no sophmore slump for those guys. All in all the defense as well as Cujo did their job. Roenick looked better last night than he did in the first game, he seems to be right at home on the checking line. Perreault continues to impress, and seems like he can be a good second liner.

It was disappointing to pick up the loss, especially against Anaheim. However, all things considered, you can already see that this Coyotes group has greatly improved, and I am still optimistic that we can have a great season.

 

[howlincoyote2k1]

Tough loss last night to Anaheim. Even though they didn't get the win, they certainly looked better than they did in their 8 games against Anaheim last season even though Anaheim is greatly improved. Even though it was unfortunately against us, Selanne's tip in during the first period was a thing of beauty. Overall, I wasn't really impressed by Anaheim last night. I sure didn't see a team that is supposedly a Stanley Cup favorite. The Coyotes managed to really outplay them even in a loss. Last year Anaheim managed to ragdoll the Coyotes all over the rink, but last night Phoenix outmuscled them.

Phoenix also had more shots than the Ducks last night, but too many of them were from around the perimeter. They just couldn't get the puck to guys in the slot. I knew that if the Coyotes were going to win, the goals were going to have to come from their secondary scoring options with the Nagy - Reino - Doan line matched up against Anaheim's top defensive pair.

All three goals in the game came on the power play, and the Coyotes were woeful on special teams last year. I think the Coyotes power play will be better than last season, but the team is going to have to stay disciplined and not give up too many penalties. I am still concerned about the penalty kill but getting Sjostrom back soon will certainly help there.

Ballard looked good last night, as did Michalek who had the only goal. Its early but looks like no sophmore slump for those guys. All in all the defense as well as Cujo did their job. Roenick looked better last night than he did in the first game, he seems to be right at home on the checking line. Perreault continues to impress, and seems like he can be a good second liner.

It was disappointing to pick up the loss, especially against Anaheim. However, all things considered, you can already see that this Coyotes group has greatly improved, and I am still optimistic that we can have a great season.

I think the reason we lost last night was we focused way too much on the whole 'not getting pushed around' thing, and forgot there was still a hockey game to be played; I believe it was what led to the penalty box parade in the 1st period that led to the two powerplay goals.

We outplayed them for the final 40 minutes, but their defense rose to expectations. Pronger and Niedermayer are only two players, but the Ducks had at least one of the two out there for about 80 percent of the game.

We must defeat Columbus tonight. This is one of those must-win games, games that good teams are expected to win.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Coyotes get off to another bad start, 3 games in a row they give up a very early goal.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

He doesn't get the hoopla that guys like Crosby, Ovechkin, and Staal do, but Rick Nash is an absolute beast in his own right at such a young age. 1 goal and 2 assists on the power play, Coyotes down 3-1 in the 2nd.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

This team remains undisciplined and for the most part unskilled. The MO of the front office to bring in past-their-prime veterans in order to save money is not serving well, IMO. It is only three games into a long season, but the same trends continue. Terrible power play (even two-man advantage is pathetic) matched with a terrible penalty kill. It is really hard to get behind this team, despite Gretzky, Doan, and the good young defensemen.

The frustrating part is that they have known about/had these same problems for several years, and nothing has changed. Talk is cheap at this point.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Another power play goal for Columbus, what a surprise...

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

He doesn't get the hoopla that guys like Crosby, Ovechkin, and Staal do, but Rick Nash is an absolute beast in his own right at such a young age. 1 goal and 2 assists on the power play, Coyotes down 3-1 in the 2nd.

Agreed. The problem with the NHL is that you have to really suck bad to get anyone good in the draft. There is one, maybe two great players per draft.

This game is over. Yotes' have given up. 5-1.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Stay out of the freaking box!

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

Penalty kill is currently at 72.7% for the Dogs!!!! At least it is that "high" right now. Wow.

This game is embarrassing now. How can Panger praise the crap that Morrisson just dealt out there?

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

This game turned on the lousy shot from Nolan on his breakaway at the end of the second period. He had the side of the net open and instead shot it at the feet of the goalie, easily saved by the butterfly. If he gets it off the ice a foot or two he scores and it is 3-2 going into the third. It is what it is, loads of shots and zero scoring chances due to every shot into the chest of the goalie. Same crap, different season.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Same crap, different season.

Way too early to say that. Way.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

It has been three or four seasons now. How can it possibly be too early? I will still watch and hope for the best, but if it smells like a yote and howls like a yote....

I love the "even up" calls in the NHL. All this is doing is making the power play look worse.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The team is vastly different from last season, and its just one game. The team still has one of the top defensive groups in the history of the franchise, and one of the top in the league. They looked absolutely awful today, but I really don't think this performance is representative of their ability.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I agree that they have (or at least should have) more ability than this and that this was a miserable game. Perhaps not very representative of the team at all. But is it just a coincedence that once again they are at the bottom as far as PP and PK, even this early in the season (I would have to check to make sure that they are indeed at the bottom for both)?

 

[Nasser22]

Wow, what was with all of those penalties? Jeez, and the penalty kill was terrible.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

According to the Trib, there was a players-only meeting after the game. Ouch.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Another early goal...

Another botched penalty kill...

1-0 Detroit early

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Didn't take Comrie long to tie it up!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

7-1 after two periods. I have never been this angry over the way this team has begun a season. Never.

 

[ArizonaSportsFan]

I see that there has been no update, so I will do the "honors". 7-1 Detroit after two periods, and it is not that close.

Kinda early for the team to be throwin' in the towel in my opinion. They are skating in cement next to the Red Wings. At least the Yotes' passes are tight and crisp - right to the Red Wings.

Spoke to soon about the lack of an update. Sorry about that CHF.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

The worst part is that is team is just standing still out there. There is no excuse for this team's lack of mobility at the moment, they have a lot more speed than this.