However, the Coyotes have a long way to go – even to making the playoffs.

When a young team wins their first two games in the fashion that they did, they might think they are kings ready to dominate the NHL. But the highs were too high and it’s important not to let the lows get too low.

I referenced a book earlier called The Code: The Unwritten Rules of Fighting and Retaliation in the NHL. That book clearly explained the events that took place on the ice last night.

Coyotes’ Defenseman Kurt Sauer hit Canadiens forward Andrei Kostitsyn high which briefly knocked him out and he landed on the ice. Kostitsyn had to be carried off the ice.

The angle that the CBC feed offered didn’t show a clear indication to me about whether or not the hit was too high, illegal, and so on. The officials didn’t get a clear look at it either as no penalty was called. Just like the Coyotes would do if one of our best players were knocked out in that fashion, the Canadiens wanted Sauer to pay for his transgression.

From the book’s analysis, Sauer needed to answer the bell. It could have been Fedoruk, but it’s better if Sauer would be the one to address the issue. And until he did, the game became very physical and very chippy, very quickly.

The subtle negotiations that took place on the ice probably was setting up a proper opponent for Sauer. Sauer more than likely wanted to fight anyone but Laraque. So, when this altercation occured in the second, a fight where he held his own, the physical play tapered a bit.

When Enver Lisin’s stick accidentally caught a Canadiens’ player in the face, accidentally because he was being forceably checked at the time (and yes, all players should control their sticks at all times – the penalty should have been called), the physical play was ratcheted up once again. As a result of the non-call, Canadiens’ head coach Guy Carboneau double-shifted Laraque to the fan’s delight. After Todd Fedoruk and Georges Laraque settled the score, the third period went back to “normal.”

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If Sauer didn’t fight, and if Fedoruk vs. Laraque did not happen, the result on the ice would have been very dangerous. My only disappointment is that when Georges Laraque was here with Phoenix, he did not protect the players in the same fashion as he did with the Canadiens. True, there are more reasons for him to be more passionate playing for a team that he grew up watching as he is from Montreal, but it’s too bad the situation didn’t work out for him here.

The Canadiens are a fantastic team right now, and they have the swagger to show for it. I hope Kostitsyn is going to be okay as he took a nasty spill. When he didn’t move, I was pretty concerned. Hopefully, he’ll join the team very soon.

As for the Coyotes, they have plenty to work on as I’m sure the plane ride back to the Valley was not a pleasant one. On Thursday, they face another skilled team in the Washington Capitals at home. It certainly does not get any easier.

From the virtual community, here is what everyone is saying:

From the Montreal Gazette: Slugfest follows hit on A.k.

From the Canadien Press: Tanguay Scores Twice as Montreal Canadiens Win Fourth Straight Game

From the CBC: Canadiens Manhandle Slumping Coyotes

From AP: Tanguay, Koivu Lead Habs to 4-1 Win over Coyotes

From Eyes on the Prize: Kostitsyn Hit Anything But Legal

For my day job, I teach high school. I won’t tell you what kind of teacher I am because it would open me up to much more scrutiny than I would truly like.

The past week had me working 10-12 hour days as I would teach and then rehearse a one act play. So just like this guy, I was an ACTOR for a week or so.

No, I’m not giving up my day job. The nights were very long and left me very little time to write about anything.

I do recognize that I have my priorities out of whack because hockey rules all, but I figured some sort of written explanation was necessary. After all, we beat the Flames in overtime last night and there should have been highlights, or a brag post, or something to commemorate the end of a six game losing skid.

There is also news regarding Georges Laraque not playing as a Phoenix Coyote any longer. Pittsburgh needs some enforcer help and quickly. When the league slowly got tougher and the Penguins star players became more vulnerable, the Penguins must have realized how valuable a guy like Andre Roy was to their lineup and regretted letting him go to Tampa Bay through the waiver wire.

Laraque has a no-trade clause in his contract but according to him, he has been informed that he will not be playing any longer.

When the deal is finalized, I will add my reaction to it later.

Another trade rumor that has been floating involves Kevyn Adams. Not that management reads this blog, but I would not recommend getting rid of a guy like Adams. I do realize that the Sabres are in need of some forward help thanks to the hit by Chris Neil on Chris Drury, but letting Adams go and not signing him would be a mistake.

Adams sees comparisons between the Coyotes and the pre-Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes. I also see some comparisons to the pre-Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. However, moving Adams is something that I would not want to happen.

Since the Coyotes don’t play until Monday night, other hockey games will garner my attention this weekend. I know where I will be on Saturday night…

For the past two weeks, Laraque has shown everyone in the Valley and the league what he is capable of doing on the ice that is not limited to just fighting. The guy can skate, he can score goals, and he can be an offensive and defensive threat.

It was a necessary adjustment. Due to the rash of injuries suffered by the top scorers of the Coyotes (Shane Doan, Mike Comrie, and Steven Reinprecht combined for 82 goals last season), something had to change with the bottom line and it did with impunity.

Laraque, Zigomanis, and Saprykin have generated most of the offense during the last five games. Laraque has learned to use his body to protect the puck and drive to the front of the net. Against the New Jersey Devils, he even tried to deke out goaltender Martin Brodeur on a toe-drag backhand shot combination trying to lift the puck into the net where I thought I was watching Sakic, Lemieux, Lecavalier, and not Laraque. The Coyotes have even given him a nickname: “Mario.”

It’s a stretch I know, but my point is this: he is no longer just the guy the Coyotes will send out to fight the other guy. He is now becoming a true hockey player and most likely always has been.

The NHL is changing. The need for an enforcer-type player is now becoming extinct. The rough aspects of hockey will not go away, however the true enforcers will now have to develop other skills that hockey requires otherwise they will no longer have jobs. It was something that Laraque realized and he knew he had to change his game. So far, it has worked very well.

I’m thrilled to see the other aspects of Georges Laraque. I don’t think that anyone, save for the coaching staff, had any idea about his skills on the ice that didn’t involve fighting. Other parts of the country are taking notice of Georges Laraque and my hopes are that he continues to improve his game on the ice and that the Phoenix Coyotes fan base will truly understand how valuable he is to the team.