One Fan's Perspective

The Phoenix Coyotes scored five goals last night against the New York Islanders and they needed all five of them to win the game as the Islanders fought back with four goals; the last two coming in the third period.

Pretty significant for an Islanders’ hockey club that has not found a way to score goals in the third period.

I heard that the Coyotes started off the first ten minutes flying and Viktor Tikhonov scored the first one. However, I could not pick up the radio broadcast locally or via NHL.com. Next, I remember reading (and possibly writing) that the Phoenix Coyotes lifted the blackout restrictions for games delivered through NHL Center Ice, but not televised by our local affiliates. My screen was black for the first period.

Then, after sending e-mail to NHL.com to fix the radio broadcast (which they finally did), the Islanders scored to tie the game at one and they were absolutely flying around the ice, forcing the Coyotes to play in their zone during the second half of the period.

I’m glad I missed that then.

The game appeared through NHL Center Ice starting in the second period, and for the rest of the game, with my simulcast of our local radio voices Bob Heethuis and Tyson Nash calling the game, we saw:

* Zbynek Michalek, Shane Doan, and Olli Jokinen score goals attempting to put the game away.
* Tim Jackman cross check Ed Jovanovski and Jackman’s stick hit the goalie mask of Mikael Tellqvist which caused him to fall to the ice. After getting repairs to his mask, Tellqvist would be okay, but I loved hearing the crowd boo Jackman every time he touched the puck or hit one of the Coyotes.
* After Josh Bailey scored his first goal of his NHL career, Joakim Lindstrom scores an unassisted goal, his fourth of the season.
* In the third period Doug Weight scores his 1000th and 1001st point of his long NHL career. I’m glad that the Public Address announcer alerted everyone in the building of his accomplishment and according to Billy Jaffe, half of the arena stood to pay respect to a great NHL player.
* As the score is 5-3, Richard Park scores his second of the third period making it 5-4 with around 30 seconds remaining in the game. For a team that struggles in the third period, they were doing everything possible to win this game.

The Coyotes made it a touch more difficult than they needed to, but gaining those two points were extremely important. With the Colorado Avalance losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets, it put some distance between the Coyotes and the Avalance. Plus, with the Philadelphia Flyers shootout, the Anaheim Ducks give away a point to the Eastern Conference.
Playing the Anaheim Ducks always has significance, but now, it’s even more intense. The Ducks and the Coyotes are tied for the sixth playoff spot with 39 points apiece and with equal records of 19-15-5.
It’s a playoff on Sunday and it should be a whale of a game.

Tags: Hockey, NHL, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
No Comments »

The last time the New York Islanders were in town was on opening night of 2006 where the Coyotes defeated them 6-3. Now they return with a 10-22-4 record that puts them last in the division, last in the conference and miles away from contention.

By not having the services of Rick DiPietro, the Islanders have had a difficult season. Lately, the only bright spot they have seen is the play of former Coyote Mike Comrie.

So far this season, they have had the worst of it playing away from Long Island. They are 5-13-2 with 2-6-2 in their last ten games. They do rank higher than the Coyotes in their specialty team statistics, but they are not that great everywhere else. The Islanders are a terrible third period team only scoring 32 goals to their oppositions’ 57!. On the other hand, the Coyotes have been a terrific third period team all season long.

They still have to play the game, and I wouldn’t give the Coyotes a victory without doing so, but it’s a good matchup for the Desert Dogs. However, they still have to play at a high level; giving two points to the Islanders would not be a wise idea.

It looks like goaltender Ilya Brzygalov is still sore with a bad back, so Mikael Tellqvist will get another shot in goal tonight.

Tags: Hockey, NHL, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
No Comments »

For the first 30 minutes, the Coyotes came out and took over the ailing Islanders. They controlled the puck, initiated the forecheck, but could not find their scoring touch. Islanders tough guy Rick DiPietro was the difference.

When Bill Guerin scored on a garbage goal, then the momentum went the other way and stayed there.

The Coyotes had their chances, and that was the disappointment, but going 0-4 on the power play will not win many hockey games. In fact, they had some quality five-on-five chances as well to put the Islanders down. However, thanks to some lucky post shots, bad ice, and some good saves by the Islanders’ netminder/pugilist, the Coyotes could not take the momentum back.

When Boytnon scored shorthanded on the Carcillo penalty, it was a prime moment for the Coyotes to regain their earlier form but it did not happen. Guerin found himself three minutes later to score his second tally of the night.

How has Guerin been prior to the Coyotes’ arrival? He only has scored one goal in his last eighteen games. Yep, normally he scores more.

The Islanders have been at the bottom of the league for goals scored. Tonight, they put three away against Bryzgalov, and I only think maybe one of those three could be pinned on him.

The Coyotes do not want to burn up this goalie so they need to score – it’s that simple. The rookies have 17 goals between them, which is second in the league.

The other issue I had was the nonsense at the end of the game. I guess DiPietro can throw punches and cause problems at the other end of the ice? Plus, the Islanders can go three-on-one against Jovanovski and leave Hanzal to fend off Brendan Witt? Hanzal stayed put, and I commend him for it, but it was clear that Hanzal was out of his element. He tried his best to be there for his team. Funny that Witt actually thought he’d spar with him. It takes chops to intimidate a rookie. As far as the goalie, well, anyone can be tough in the layers of equipment that they wear.

The question remains though for the Coyotes as to what team they want to be. The Coyotes have shown us that they have the means to make it difficult for the other teams to play against them. Now, they have to really bring it against three of the top six teams in the Eastern Conference.

Here are the recaps from the AP and the Arizona Republic.

Tags: Hockey, NHL, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes by pbcoyotes
6 Comments »