One Fan's Perspective

Since moving out here, and adopting the local hockey team, we have been fortunate enough to see our share of hockey games.  I still remember our first game (or one of them) where the promotion was something like a hockey beach towel/blanket that the first 10K or so received (we somehow go to this game every year…we have a collection of these things now.  They changed the design to a fleece blanket, which is a vast improvement).  The blanket/towel thing was good enough then, but viewing the packed house was cooler still.

Fans would display this item before and during the game, and the view from the lower bowl was pretty amazing.

The game on Saturday night was something special.  Honoring Shane Doan, one of the most loyal and hardest working hockey players out there, was definitely a big deal.

Besides honoring Doan, there was a scene that I witnessed Saturday night that brought me back our first visit to the arena.  The packed house where the Coyotes fans outnumbered the visitors.

It was by far, one of the best game the Coyotes have played since the lockout.  Besides the penalty calls (and lack of them for obvious infractions), having the team kill off a 6-0n-3 with 45 seconds remaining was short of spectacular.  Seeing the crowd display their fleece blankets during those waning minutes brought us back to our first game.

So, Coyotes’ head coach Dave Tippett has this team playing extremely well.  Many people are seeing that Tippett’s coaching prowess and comparing this experience to Wayne Gretzky’s tenure here.   I saw a fan almost having his head ripped off for stating his thoughts about Gretzky’s coaching to a very drunk L.A. Kings fan wearing the jersey from circa 1992. Luckily, the drunk fan had a friend (who was also drunk) push him away from certain jail time.

Usually, about this time in the season, when the Coyotes are showing that they are a good hockey team, something from the press comes in to derail the party, hoping to distract this team.  What we’ve seen though, is this team cannot be distracted, or Tippett tries his best to keep the distractions outside the locker room.

One can say that tonight’s game is a huge game for the Coyotes.  What does Tippett say?

“Every game for me is the biggest game of the year; (today) is the next one”

quoted in Arizona Republic

He has done a masterful job keep the team focused on the job at hand.  Besides many of the criticisms leveled at Gretzky (some fair, some not), the problem with having such a high profile coach is that when something goes awry, (Rick Tocchet gambling, Jeremy Roenick leaving the team for a beer, the ownership issues) the media is all over it.  I can only think that some of those distractions found their way into the locker room.

I always wondered if the media stuff was exposed when the Coyotes were doing well.  Then, the team lost its focus because no longer were we talking hockey, but the distractions instead.  When John Tortorella was with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he had a skill to take the heat for his team.  Gretzky didn’t have this skill.  Tortorella thrived on the conflict whereas Gretzky sometimes avoided it.

I liked Gretzky while he was here, but it is clear now he didn’t have his coaching chops.  He couldn’t keep the distractions away and that’s the main difference.

So today, they face the number one team in the West the San Jose Sharks.  This will be a good test as they face adversity on the road.  I don’t buy the idea that this team will implode by the all-star/olympic break.  However, they do have to prove that they won’t.

It’s up to the team and Tippett’s staff to not allow that to happen.

Tags: Dave Tippett, Hockey, Jeremy Roenick, John Tortorella, Los Angeles Kings, NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Rick Tocchet, Shane Doan, Wayne Gretzky by pbcoyotes
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The Phoenix Coyotes came out of the gate with a purpose – to eliminate the debacle that was the defeat to the Los Angeles Kings – and snapped the three game win streak of the Colorado Avalanche. They came out flying and for most of the hockey game, they took it to the opposition.

The Avalanche drew first blood as T.J. Hensick put a goal past Mikael Tellqvist. Hensick took advantage of a rebound that came off of Tellqvist and capitalized. David Hale missed his chance to take the man out of the play, but Hale had a good game otherwise.

However, the Coyotes did not cave. They kept to the system and worked until they got what they wanted.

After going goalless for 21, Peter Mueller has three goals in two games with two goals last night and the game winner. They will come in bunches and hopefully, it’s a good sign for him. He definitely showed a lot of confidence and the Coyotes will need him to keep playing well.

The play of the night for me was due to an up-ice pass from Mikkel Boedker and watching Enver Lisin bear down to get the puck. He outskated the Avalanche defense, stopped on a dime, and made a pass to Olli Jokinen who scored an important insurance goal. Lisin’s speed is incredible and I enjoy watching him play.

Today is the Winter Classic on NBC, which I’ll be watching very shortly.  But until then, take a look at the other virtual voices that recapped the game last night.

From the Arizona Republic:

Mueller Scores Twice to Lead Coyotes

From the Denver Post:

Avs Seem to Have Little Interest in Loss to Phoenix

From Mile High Hockey:

Game 37: Coyotes 3, Avalanche 1 (Quickie Recap)

Tags: Enver Lisin, Hockey, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
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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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