Hanzal and Whtiney ready for Game 3 (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

(Phoenix leads best-of-seven series, 2-0)

9PM Start time CNBC, TSN, RDSI

Game 3 will be big game for the Nashville Predators as they are looking to win a game in the series and the Phoenix Coyotes are looking for the same results they played in Game 2. They will be trying to take a stranglehold series lead 3 games to none. Coyotes played their hearts in Game 2 and whenever they had the lead, they responded back when the Predators scored. Let’s take a look at the key players in the series shall we:

Pekka Rinne will be a key player Game 3 as he will try to motivate his Predators in their home building and try stop the Phoenix Coyotes from taking a lead into the series. He was a big reason why the Predators have gotten far into the playoffs. The Coyotes will look from motivation from their goalie Mike Smith who kept them in both Game 1 and 2. Other key players to watch will be Antoine Vermette and Ray Whitney as they each have four points in their last three games for Phoenix and will continue to be big factors into Game 3.

If you want a late night battle between these two teams, then look forward to Game 3 as they drop puck at 9 p.m. in Nashville on the CNBC Sports Network.

He might be a derp-face, but Mike Smith was first star for a reason. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

The Coyotes took home their second win in the series tonight with what was excellent play by the ‘Yotes and what could be called… lackluster play by the Preds.

Despite Phoenix losing Klesla less than thirty seconds into the game, the Coyotes managed to put a goal on the board eight and a half minutes into play. Vermette took the puck to the far side of the net from the rest of the players in the zone, throwing Rinne off for the wrist shot. But Nashville tied it up with three minutes left in the period, with Andrei Kostitsyn faking right with the puck then taking it home to the left in a nice open spot.

Who all went and grabbed the snackage for the second period, cause I know I was stress eating like a fool here! Less than four minutes in Martin Hanzal broke the tie for Phoenix and three minutes later, we had the drama of the Coyotes taking the puck from by their own net all the way to Rinne with Vrbata taking his second goal of the series. But did the scoring party end there? No it did not. Patric Hornqvist brought Nashville within one of Phoenix with a power play goal eleven minutes in, rocketing the puck in off a pass from Suter.

» Continue reading “Preds Fall To ‘Yotes, Now 0-2 For Series”

Coyotes celebrate a game 2 victory (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

Phoenix Coyotes played a different game in Game 2 as they outshot and outplayed the Nashville Predators. The Coyotes won 5-3 in game 2 and take a commanding two to nothing series lead over the Predators. Coyotes got goals from Antoine Vermette, Martin Hanzal, Radim Vrbata, Taylor Pyatt, and their captain Shane Doan. Here are some of the highlights from Game 2: » Continue reading “Coyote Ugly: Coyotes Dominate Game 2, Win 5-3″

Shane Doan, a key player in Game 2 (Photo: Bridget Sameuls/Flickr)

Phoenix leads series 1-0

8 p.m. NBC Sports Network, TSN

First game of the 2nd round is already done in the books and the Phoenix Coyotes won the game 4-3, despite being outshot and outplayed by the Nashville Predators. Ray Whitney led the Coyotes to the OT win; captain Shane Doan didn’t lead like Whitney, nor did Keith Yandle. Phoenix will look to continue to dominate the series, while the Predators attempt to even the score. The Coyotes have a few things to work on before their next match-up.

Five Improvements To Win Game 2

1. Winning in regulation: domination during the game is key to maintaining momentum.

2. Score reassurance goals and keep the lead. A one goal lead is never safe, the other series are proof.

3. Stop turning the puck over and work on not allowing too many goal-scoring chances on Smith. Spending more time in your zone is counterintuitive to gaining game momentum.

4. Mike Smith has to be on top of his game. He has been a key factor in the first round against the Blackhawks, where he showed his leadership abilities.

5. Shane Doan and other key Coyotes players like, Yandle, Vermette and Hanzal,need to pick up the scoring in order to win Game 5.  Without secondary scoring in the playoffs, the Coyotes will only be keeping pace with the other team.

Key Players

Predators

1. Martin Erat needs to keep his scoring momentum and pace for the Predators to win.

2. David Legwand and Mike Fisher need to making bigger statements in order for the Predators to achieve success.

Coyotes

1. Shane Doan, Keith Yandle and Antoine Vermette will have to start scoring more goals and assist when they need reassurance goals.

2. Mikkel Boedker must keep pace scoring for the Coyotes to become more of a threat, and advancement to the next round easier.

Dave Tippett is is looking to start Mike Smith for the Coyotes. Pekka Rinne will start for the Predators.

The Coyotes and Predators drop puck for Game 2 at 8 p.m. in Phoenix on the NBC Sports Network.

Ray Whitney gets the winner in OT (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

Game 1 had officially started for the 3rd seeded Phoenix Coyotes and 4th seeded Nashville Predators and it was a dandy of a game as it went into OT. That is right extra playoff hockey. The Predators outplayed and outshot the Coyotes but it took one mistake by the Predators as Ray Whitney took advantage of it and ended the game in the 1st OT as the Coyotes won 4-3. Here are the highlights from the game:
» Continue reading “Whitney Gets The Winner As Coyotes Win 4-3 In OT, Series Lead 1-0″

Captain Shane Doan will have to step up his playoff game this round. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Yesterday saw a glance at the defensemen and goaltending of the Phoenix Coyotes’ playoff run. So today, let me introduce you to some of the forwards!

As we all know by now, Phoenix forward Raffi Torres is serving a twenty-five game suspension for an illegal hit to the head – hallelujah he won’t be able to hurt anyone on the Predators! But this news aside, who else is on the offensive line for the Phoenix Coyotes?

The first name I’ll admit that comes to my mind – Biznasty. Yes. I know. It’s sad. But Paul Bissonnette is a Phoenix forward, therefore he must be mentioned. Seriously, go follow the guy on Twitter. It’s hilarious.

But seriously, taking a look at the Phoenix first line, left wing Ray Whitney is someone who will need to be shut down. The veteran player has almost eighty points this season – an impressive feat by any standard. Though he hasn’t been a huge factor in the playoffs so far, Radim Vrbata had a spectacular season, tallying thirty-five goals. Captain Shane Doan is also a force to bring up. While the second line center has only two points in six playoff games, his fifty points during the season, twenty-two of which are goals, rival any on the Nashville top line.

The playoff season has seen certain players stand up and make their names known to the world. In particular is second line center Antoine Vermette. Vermette has had four goals in his six playoff games this season, more than any of the Nashville players. In fact, Nashville’s Gabriel Bourque comes the closest with three goals. While we tend to just look at the big goal scorers, the men who make the assists can certainly cause problems for the opposing team. Phoenix defensemen Yandle and Klesla are at top of the points list with five assists and three assists with a goal respectively.

Looks like we’re back to the idea that defense and goaltending will be the real showdown for the second round with stats like that! We will find out for sure if this will be a battle of the defense side come Friday night at 9pm EST as round two starts in Phoenix!

Boedker, Vrbata and Hanzal ready to take on the Preds (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

The Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators are facing one another in the second round and it will be the battle of the goaltending. The Coyotes are coming off a 4-2 series win over the Chicago Blackhawks while the Predators are coming off a 4-1 series win over the Detroit Red Wings. This series will start tomorrow in Phoenix, the home of the Coyotes and people wonder who will come out top of this series and who will not. But for right now we should look at the keys in this series preview:

» Continue reading “Coyotes-Predators: Series Preview”

Hanzal and Smith celebrating a game 6 win (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

The Phoenix Coyotes have advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time in since moving to the desert in 1996 as they eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks, 4 games to 2 and won the game on the performance of their number goalie, Mike Smith 4-0. Three unanswered goals in the third period helped the Coyotes in the game. Here are the highlights from the game:

1st Period

The first period was sluggish for the Coyotes as they spend most of their time in their own zone. The Coyotes looked like they had zero energy and were turning the puck over constantly. Then Coyotes‘ Rostislav Klesla was down on the ice at the United Center after getting tangled up with Brendan Morrison as he was hit in the face from Morrison‘s skate.

Mike Smith once again stepped up for the Coyotes in the first period as chances by the Blackhawks were good. First,  Patrick Kane passes the puck to Andrew Shaw, who almost gets a goal past Mike Smith but Smith robs him as he kept his team in this game. Then Jimmy Hayes had the chance on Smith but Smith was the smarter of the two as he stops that shot. Michael Frolik had a breakaway chance on Mike Smith as he denied him.

The Coyotes looked they had no life in the game until the middle of the 1st period but Smith was a big reason why the Coyotes were in the game.

» Continue reading “Coyotes Win 4-0 In Game 6, Eliminate The Hawks 4 Games To 2″

Shane Doan a key player to Game 6 (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

Phoenix Coyotes lead the best of seven series, 3 games to 2

TV: CNBC, 8pm start

Overtime seems to be theme between the series of the Phoenix Coyotes and the Chicago Blackhawks. This series has had leads blown in the 3rd period and needing overtime for 5 straight games. Yes…FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES. Now will tomorrow be a different story and not have overtime to decide the game? I guess we will have to find out tomorrow, now won’t we? These two teams barely play one another in the regular season as this series has been testy. One player on each team has been suspended–Raffi Torres is serving a 25 game suspension for his hit on Marian Hossa and Andrew Shaw, who served his 3 game suspension, will be back tomorrow.

Tomorrow night is a crucial game for both teams. The Coyotes are looking to close their series and the Blackhawks are looking to extend the series to a game. Now let’s look at some key factors into the game tomorrow, shall we.

Three Keys to winning Game 6 for the Coyotes

1. Finish the game in regulation. Like come on, it’s not easy for the Coyotes but close it out in regulation once.

2. Score on the power play when you get the chance. It will build their confidence.

3. Score reassurance goals because that I can guarantee will keep the lead and suck the life out of the other team. Having a 4 goal lead is safer than having a 2 goal.

Key Players To Watch For

Michael Frolik is a key player for the Coyotes to watch because he has recorded 3 straight points in the last 3 games and he was one of the better players in the game last night. Also watch out for Patrick Kane because for the Blackhawks to win, they need Kane to start scoring important goals. The Coyotes will try and frustrate Kane in this game.

Shane Doan is a key player for the Blackhawks to watch because he had chances to win the game for the Coyotes and could not. He will be frustrated and ready for this game to begin. Also watch out for Antoine Vermette because he has been on a little hot streak himself. The Hawks will try and contain these two forwards in this game.

Crucial game 6 for both the Phoenix Coyotes  and Chicago Blackhawks. This series could be won by the Coyotes and advance to the next round. Or this series will be tied and go to a game 7 to determine who will this series. What will happen? Will the Coyotes advance? Or will the Blackhawks win and tie the series up? Strap in your seat buckles, get some popcorn, and something to drink. This game will be worthy of watching tomorrow night!

Starting Goalies: Mike Smith for the Coyotes vs. Corey Crawford for the Blackhawks

Boedker and Korpikoski celebrate a Game 4 victory (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

For the 2nd game and 4th Overtime in the series between the Chicago Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes, Mikkel Boedker scored his second overtime winner as the Coyotes won 3-2 and take a commanding 3 to 1 series lead over the Blackhawks. Here are some of the recaps from the game:

1st Period

The Blackhawks came out firing, earning an early power play as Shane Doan took a penalty for hooking. The Coyotes were outshot by the Blackhawks 10-5 in the 1st period alone. The Blackhawks had the better of the chances than the Coyotes did. Then after the power play chances by the Blackhawks, there was a fight between Brandon Bollig and Paul Bissonnette. After the fight, Bissonnette earned a game misconduct for a jersey violation.

» Continue reading “Boedker, OT Hero, Wins It For The Coyotes, 3-2 In Game 4,”