Martin Hanzal (c/o flickr.com/bridgetds)

Can’t really argue with that. Even though Brown wasn’t hurt, it was a nasty board on a defenseless player. In fact, it was Hanzal’s lack of history that kept him from getting more games.

But this is a shame for Phoenix, because though Hanzal hasn’t exactly been a scoring machine (3-2-5 in 10GP), he did score the series game-winner against Nashville and the Coyotes need all the help they can get. Down 2-0 headed to LA, things are do not bode well for the Desert Dogs.

I have never been so satisfied with a last-minute decision as when I volunteered to cover the Coyotes on an emergency basis. They are my beloved furballs, and they provide a lovely amount of comfort when they go out and decisively win hockey games.

I was as unhappy about the Klesla suspension as any right-thinking individual was. That is, I was pretty sure he should get a game, but I didn’t actually want him to. I wanted a Shea Weber situation, in other words. After all, it would be cruel to suspend an important part of a dominant team in a decisive game.
» Continue reading “Coyotes Beat Predators, Advance to Western Conference Finals”

On the brigth side, Wilson had his first playoff goal tonight! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Umm… how do I say this with the least amount of pain? I guess it’s like a Band-Aid and you just have to rip it off.

The Preds fell in Game 5 to the Phoenix Coyotes in a 2-1 game.

Okay no, that still hurt. No more ripping off bad news like Band-Aids.

I know hopes were high for this game. We had Radulov and Kostitsyn back in the line up and Phoenix was missing one of their top D-men, Klesla. Coach Trotz kept the anticipation up for the crowd, throwing together seemingly random lineups for each period to see who might give the Predators the right opportunity for scoring.

Can I just say it was interesting to watch Sergei Kostitsyn play on the fourth line? I mean what the what? He’s been on the first line for what seems like forever!

Line changes aside, Nashville brought the pressure tonight, outshooting the ‘Yotes 33-17. The Preds even managed to keep the penalty count down to one in this game! Did anyone know that could actually happen? But even with all the awesomeness from the team in the first period, they just couldn’t hold on for a Game 6.

The second period was all Phoenix. Derek Morris took home the first goal of the night four minutes in, going five hole after a teammate took a breakaway attempt. Martin Hanzel was up next on the board, again going five hole on Rinne with five minutes left in the period.

While Nashville had plenty of chances to score in both the first and second periods, their time didn’t come until the third with Colin Wilson. Wilson had his first playoff goal tonight on a tip-in from David Legwand, keeping the Preds from being shut out in their final game this season.

Well Predators, we’ve had a good run. I know I stand with you through good or bad and I already can’t wait for the new season to start! Let’s Go Preds!

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″

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”

Ray Whitney not happy (Photo: Bridget Samuel/Flickr)

If you want extra time, then Game 5 of the Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks was the game for you. It was the first time since 1951 that a game went into a  5th straight overtime that the Coyotes and Blackhawks went back into OT to decide who won this game. I am not even kidding when I said 1951. You heard me correctly.  Jonathan Toews wins the game in OT for the Blackhawks, 3-2. » Continue reading “Coyotes Lose Game 5 2-1 In OT, Series Going To Game 6″

Boedker a key to game 5 for the Coyotes (Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

(Phoenix leads best-of-seven series, 3-1)

TV: NBCS Network 9pm time start

A pack mentality has gotten these Phoenix Coyotes through much the season and the playoff run they are on. They will look to close their series with the Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow in Game 5 as they will look to win a playoff series in their franchise history while the Blackhawks will look to take the series back to Chicago for a Game 6.  The Coyotes won their last two games in overtime with Mikkel Boedker’s game winners, putting the Coyotes up 3-1 in the series. The Coyotes are going to have to learn how to keep a lead in the 3rd period by scoring reassurance goals.

 3 keys to winning game 5 for the Coyotes:

1. Score first has been a key for the Coyotes. Also playing a full 20 minutes in each period and full 60 minutes in the game. They have issues by letting the tying goal in each of their last three games.

2. Maintaining the lead and scoring reassurance goals to make sure they finish out the game. They have let the past game tying goals making them to go to Overtime to win their games. Hopefully tomorrow they will learn that tomorrow to close out their game with the series.

3. Their penalty kill has been a key to the series as their PK in the series as has been at 92.3 which has been crucial for the Coyotes. Their power play has been a different story as they are 18.2 and half the reason why they can’t keep their leads in the game.

Key Players

Mikkel Boedker is one of the key players that the Blackhawks are going to have to contain to win this series as he scored the past two game winners against them. On the Blachawks side, Jonathan Toews, the captain, will look to motivate his team and try keep them in the game.

If the Blackhawks can maintain and cover Boedker, they will have a chance to win and take the series back to Chicago for a pivotal Game 5. If not, the Blackhawks will be looking at the golf links. If the Coyotes can contain Toews, they will win their first series in franchise history.

Game 5 is a do or die game for the Blackhawks. The Coyotes will look to close out their series and rest for up for a few days. This game will be fun. This game will be packed. This game will have emotions. Will we see a handshake at the end? We will have to wait and see tomorrow for this game. I am excited. Are you?

Game notes:

-Lauri Korpikoski is out for the game due to a lower body injury. Martin Hanzal is a game time decision.

-Mike Smith has been a big reason why the Coyotes are poised to win. 10 goals on 164 shots for a .939% save percentage in the past 4 games. Very impressive for Smith, who is considered the MVP for this team.