“We’ve got to find a way to close those games out … when you get a 5-1 lead, you should defend it well…[hem] them in, don’t give them a chance to come out. Don’t give them any life.”

Dave Tippett quoted in the Arizona Republic

No kidding.  The Coyotes came out strong as they do on most nights, and find a way to score the first goal.  When they do, their record is just spectacular, second in the league behind New Jersey with 22-2-2.

Four-of-a-kind perhaps.

The current home stand has shown us that certain players are about to wake up.  We have seen a brilliant breakaway goal scored by Peter Mueller against the best goaltender in the league Martin Brodeur, Shane Doan finding a way to score points thanks to an on-ice experiment putting Daniel Winnik and Vernon Fiddler on his line, and Ed Jovanovski opening up for a huge night at a plus-four after serving his time away from the ice due to suspension.

Good stuff all around, really.

The concern though that in this homestand, where they’re 2-1-1, and in the previous six games, Bryzgalov and company have allowed their opposition to score three or more goals per game.   While it’s true that the Coyotes have been lighting the lamp at a high level lately, they are beating themselves if they keep allowing this trend to continue.

Because we know they are a good hockey team, fifth in the conference with 61 points, finding ways to put distance between themselves and those below them, but if they don’t shore up the defense, life will certainly get more difficult.

[sarcasm] I’m also very truly sorry that the rest of the NHL’s fan base hasn’t really caught on to the fact the Coyotes are doing well right now.  It’s a different world for these fans to adjust to and I get it.

[/sarcasm]

Yes Glen, a team can be both dealing with financial issues and a good hockey team, I mean the North Stars are still in Minnesota right?  Oh wait…no…that team won, went to the Stanley Cup playoffs, had an idiot owner, and then the team relocated to Dallas.  Good job there recognizing history.

Yes Glen, keep reminding us what happened this summer.  I trust the guys will give us reasons to cheer and continue to have a good fall and winter.  Besides, how many points have the Wild earned against the Coyotes this season?   Wait for it…zero.  Okay then, have your snark, if that helps you.

Next up is what seems to be an annual visit by the Buffalo Sabres on Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.  Whether that’s true or not, it just seems like the Coyotes play these guys every year on that day.  However, it will be another difficult test against a very difficult Eastern Conference team who is second in their conference right behind the New Jersey Devils.  They also have an Olympian goaltender in Ryan Miller.

If the Coyotes play their game, play defense to help Bryzgalov out, and if they get the lead and never let go,

then the summer can continue to be a distant memory.

Other views around the media universe?  Take a look:

Coyotes Hold Off Wild in Third, from Arizona Republic

Bid for Second Fairy Tale End Halted by Big Bad Coyotes

Tiny Signs of Life, from Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog

Minnesota Wild and Phoenix Coyotes Game Recap, from Hockey Wilderness