One Fan's Perspective

I wouldn’t say that I’m a huge Dan Carcillo fan. In fact, I’ve written before how he can actually be a detriment to his hockey team with his extra-curricular activities following a fight or for abusing the officials.

However, I do know he has value to the Phoenix Coyotes because at 5′ 11″, he plays like a guy 6′ 4″ (or more). He is the one of the few who brings it every night, willing to hit, and willing to take a hit so that his team can be successful.

For the past few games, Carcillo has been unfairly maligned in the eyes of the officials on the ice. Clearly, Carcillo is not an angel, and I do recognize that. However, he doesn’t cause trouble and skate away like some players in the NHL. He takes the heat and by doing so it sparks his team.

Whether there is a conspiracy afoot, or just plain incompetence, remains to be seen (but in this case, I lean to the conspiracy theory), but last night against the Los Angeles Kings was the first time ever I saw a five-minute major penalty called for interference with a game misconduct tacked on for good measure.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnd6fw9cr-o&hl=en]

How hurt was Tom Preissing after the forceful check by Carcillo? Enough to score in the waning seconds of the major penalty.

It’s up to Carcillo to take the target off of his back, but if he keeps playing like he has in the last two weeks or so, where the excessive PIMs were unfairly charged against him, sooner or later that bull’s eye will go away. Because the team needs him and the team needs more like him to battle in the Western Conference.

Tags: Daniel Carcillo, Hockey, Los Angeles Kings, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Tom Preissing by pbcoyotes
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As the team prepares for its outing against the Vancouver Canucks, news is now out regarding how long Daniel Carcillo will be out.

According to the Arizona Republic, he will miss 6-8 weeks as a result of his altercation and subsequent wrestling match Thursday night.

I think the loss of Carcillo is a substantial one. I know that I have been hard on him for the dumb penalties he has taken, but lately, he has been quite good. With the PIMs he racked up against the Sharks, those are the good ones to earn – sticking up for his teammates – and I will not argue with that.

It is good that the Coyotes have some semblance of depth as we will most likely see Mike Zigomanis re-enter the lineup tonight, and there are some players in the AHL that could come up if needed, but replacing Carcillo will be difficult.

The emphasis from the coaching staff to the Coyotes on playing a team concept of hockey will prove dividends as they do not rely on one guy to get it done. Carcillo has not been that guy, but has provided the spark to get his team going.

Daniel Carcillo has become somewhat of a fan favorite in Phoenix, and he will be missed.

Tags: Daniel Carcillo, Hockey, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
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It took me awhile to reflect on the different teams the Coyotes are at this point in the season.

After pummeling the Stars 5-0 on Friday night, the Coyotes skated into the arena a different team on home ice than they are on the road. Their road record is 4-1, while at home it’s 1-6.

Saturday night against the Ducks, the issues that prevented them from winning could have been their first back-to-back contest of the season, the pressure of performing in front of the home crowd, or the return of Ducks’ defenseman Mathieu Schneider. However, it is clear that defending the home turf is difficult for this team right now.

I’m not sure why Josh Gratton was scratched for the game. Daniel Carcillo took it upon himself to step up and fill that role, but the officials do not respect him. But I have to hand it to Carcillo, not only does he squawk on the ice, he will back it up. He’s turning into one of the fan favorites as well.

Carcillo racked up 34 penalty minutes with two fights and two game misconduct penalties. The second one was a result of an open ice hit that was very close to being a knee-on-knee hit by Corey Perry. Carcillo, in return, charged Perry which caused Ryan Getzlaf to skate over to push around Carcillo.

Carcillo received a charging call, which it very clearly was, and a game misconduct. Getzlaf, for his foray, didn’t get a penalty and scored on the power play.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqCa00WKsyo&rel=1]

For Carcillo’s charging penalty, Matt Rosen on his post-game show said that it was not a good penalty to take. A perceived knee-on-knee hit is difficult, for even the cagiest of veterans, to ignore. Getzlaf should have received something for roughing up Carcillo, but instead stayed on the ice and scored.

If Gratton was in the game, there would have been another enforcer on the ice and the outcome might have been different. Because of the way Carcillo plays the game, he’s a marked individual by most officiating crews.

Despite the fights that occurred on Saturday night, the Coyotes did not play the same intense, physical game that they had with Dallas. They just didn’t have the same energy and it showed. The more they tried to score, the more difficult the game became for them. The Coyotes had their chances, but the good luck that shone on them against the Stars, did not travel with them.

The good news is that they face the Ducks on Wednesday night. It will be the third game in a ten game stretch against the Pacific division.

Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Daniel Carcillo, Hockey, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
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