Approaching the All-Star Break
The 2007-2008 hockey season has been a different beast for the Phoenix Coyotes.
Last year through 47 games:
Record: 21-24-2
GF: 126
GA: 179
GAA: 3.80
Shorthanded: 267
This season through 47 games:
Record: 24-21-2
GF: 121
GA: 126
GAA: 2.70
Shorthanded: 195
The record is an eerie one though, but positively pointed in the right direction. However, the notable statistics are the goals against and the times shorthanded. Each have been drastically decreased. The Coyotes had a long winning streak when they traveled to face the Southeast division last year that bumped their record up, but they still could not cut down on the penalties they took, nor their goals against. Their team defense was not good nor was their team discipline.
Even though the Coyotes were able to string some games together during the late part of December to the mid-part of January, they still ended the year 31-46-5.
For the Coyotes to make this push, the game plan remains the same (in no particular order):
- Puck possession with an aggressive forecheck
- Team defense
- Team discipline
- Goaltending
- Scoring
The next two games, today against Buffalo and Thursday against Nashville, are incredibly huge, as well as those games after the All-Star break. Right now, the standings are completely bunched up with four teams: St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, and the Chicago Blackhawks all with 50 points. Plus, the Coyotes have two games in hand over the Columbus Blue Jackets who hold the ninth spot and lost their last game; the Blues face the Predators later tonight.
In the eighth spot is Vancouver with 55 points and in the seventh is Calgary with 56.
95 points looks like the magic number to qualify for the playoffs, thanks to James Mirtle’s analysis that he features every year. He offers that the Coyotes will need to go 22-12-1 to get in. Last year, the Coyotes had an outside chance, thanks to the run they went on, but couldn’t sustain pressure and were forced to blow the team up and start over.
It’s a good thing they did…
As far as the game today with Buffalo is concerned, please check out Hip Shot Blog and True Coyote Love for game previews from the Coyotes’ perspective.
From the Sabres’ end, be sure to check out Sabre Rattling and LetsGoSabres.
Finally, the mainstream has other recaps to peruse from the Arizona Republic, and the Buffalo News.
Thanks for this analysis, PB. You couldn’t have made a better comparison and viewpoint on what we see between last season and this season.
You had pointed out the drastic improvement in fewer goals allowed and the overall shorthanded situations. Certainly that comes with the much better defensive play and of course the impact of Ilya Bryzgalov. The lower goals-against-average is a big indicator. Another huge difference is much fewer penalties. They had commited the most penalties in the entire league last season, right? Staying out of the box means more opportunities for your scoring threats to work.
But despite the first half and early second half success, one thing that is a little troubling is that the Coyotes have scored fewer goals than even last season through 47 games. I know they’re a bit offensively challenged with this young club, but if Phoenix is going to make that playoff push, they’re going to need more consistent production from their forwards.