Minnesota Wild Beat Phoenix Coyotes 1-0
Based on the performance of the Phoenix Coyotes, it is very apparent that not all of the players are ready for the playoffs.
There were only two that had the mental fortitude to withstand playoff-type pressure and those two players were Curtis Joseph and Keith Ballard.
If they played the entire game with the same intensity as that third period, the Minnesota Wild would have had a more difficult time gaining or defending their lead.
The Coyotes had four power play chances and even though the Wild has a top six penalty kill in the NHL, they had the opportunities to tie the game and they squandered them away.
The second period reminded me of the early 2006-2007 Coyotes when they could not buy wins, could not play together, and could not generate offense. If they played the entire game like they had during the third, the game would most likely have been theirs.
Instead, the Wild backup goaltender earned his second shutout against the Coyotes and the Coyotes find themselves back 12 points from eighth place in the Western Conference.
In contrast, there is a reason why the Minnesota Wild is in that eighth spot in the conference. They play a tough, defensive minded game where opposing teams are forced to make plays that they do not want to. The Wild found a way to win thanks to Marian Gaborik and his second period goal, and thanks to the swarming defensive structure they employed Saturday night.
The Coyotes journey to a playoff appearance now becomes exceedingly difficult.
Mathematically, they are still in it, and anything could happen, but the Coyotes need a lot of help. It will be an interesting three weeks as they approach the trade deadline.
For the first 12 games of the season, the Coyotes record was 3-9. Since then, and before tonight’s game, they were 21-17-2. Picking up wins against teams they should have beaten, and picking up wins against teams where the Coyotes had the right situation to win, their record would be better. If they had won three more games and went 6-6 during the first 12 games of the season, they would be now tied with Colorado and knocking more loudly at the door of the post-season.
Instead, they can barely make a collect call.
The Coyotes head East on a road trip facing two teams that have a solid grip on their positions in their post-season and two teams in Florida and Columbus that still struggle to find their way. The other two games are with the Tampa Bay Lighting and the Detroit Red Wings.
My only hope that if management sees any player phoning it in the rest of the way that they will make the decisions necessary to see a vast improvement in this hockey club. The foundation is there – they just need to build it out further.
Original post by PB and software by Elliott Back
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Posted by Greg Esposito
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