One Fan's Perspective

The Dallas Stars return to Glendale for tonight’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes.  On their last visit, the Coyotes beat them 3-2.  Since that victory, they have gone 2-3-1 and in ninth place in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, their opponents are in the 7th spot and tout a 6-3-3 record on the road.  Even though one of those losses came at the hands of the Coyotes, it means nothing if they can’t put more goals in the net (and the Coyotes are once again last in the NHL in that category).

Defensively, the Coyotes are playing the system that head coach Dave Tippett has given them – they rank fourth in goals against and allow the third fewest shots on goal.  Defense wins can win the tight games (and championships), but the scoring has to be there.

What we would like to see is the other skill players play like these guys: Shane Doan, Daniel Winnik, Vern Fiddler, Petr Prucha, and to some extent Scottie Upshall.  The unique aspect about these players is that when a play doesn’t go quite right, they keep skating towards the puck.  Next thing we see is that there is a shot on goal.

On the other hand, Peter Mueller and Robert Lang seem to hesitate after they attempt a play.  That split second of stoppage causes the opposition to take that rebound or turnover and push it back up ice in the other direction.  If they handled themselves like the other players I wrote, the results may be beneficial, even to the point of keeping the puck down at their end.

The Coyotes know that they have to shake things up a little and recalled Mikkel Boedker from the San Antonio Rampage.  It will be his second visit with the Desert Dogs this season.  Will they choose to play him?  If so, who sits?  Hopefully, he will make the impact he needs to stay.  I really enjoyed his play here last year.

Five for Howling has an excellent preview for tonight’s game and Defending Big D has the other side of it.  What’s funny is that Defending Big D writes about a Dallas Morning News article about Brad Richards, and Five for Howling suggests that the Coyotes should make Brad Richards sad.  It’s a synergy, I guess! 

The reading material for me today also included:

From the Arizona Republic: Jovanovksi and Michalek Back with Team

From The Sporting News: Stars and Coyotes Preview

Luke Lapinski has a preview from Phoenix Coyotes.com

Tags: Dallas Stars, Hockey, Mikkel Boedker, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
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Even though the Phoenix Coyotes lost in a large way Monday night against the Edmonton Oilers, the third period proved that they would just not give up. Pat Quinn commented as much when he said, “We started to move the puck with authority and our guys had some jump. Our forwards were available and wanted the puck. That made for a good early performance until we got fat and happy.

“I don’t know why this team would ever have that happen to them because we haven’t accomplished squat yet.”

Yes, the Oilers had the momentum from the second half of the first until the third, but when the Coyotes attempted to take control, Oilers’ netminder just stood on his head for his first career NHL shutout.

What will happen tonight? A good preview to start appears over at Five for Howling. The only aspect that I would add is the Flames’ performance at home. The Flames have an excellent road record, but they struggle at home with a 6-5 record. Plus, the Coyotes don’t really want to get swept out of Alberta. They knew what happened in the last game was based on performance, on bad luck, and on a hot goaltender, but if they don’t start scoring soon, it will be more of the same song in future performances.

Other stories that I have read include:

Dome Awaits Road Awakening

Dogs Not So Dry in Desert

Tags: Calgary Flames, Hockey, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
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I just found out last night that I can post to my blog from e-mail. Not too terribly exciting for anyone else, but I thought it was sort of cool.

So that’s the reason for this particular message. I might delete it later.

I wanted to see how it worked.

Tags: One Fan's Perspective by pbcoyotes
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