SB Nation User Blog: OdinMercer

Phoenix Coyotes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - Gmae #37 Gamethread - Let's Do It Again!

OdinMercer — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:58:18 -0000

Next Game

Phoenix Coyotes		Columbus Blue Jackets

14-15-7		21-13-2
35 points		44 points
14th in Western Conference		7th in the Western Conference

Monday, Dec 21, 2009, 7:00 PM MST
Jobing.com Arena

TV: Center Ice Only
Radio 1510 KDUS

Opposition Site: The Cannon

Complete Coverage >

GO YOTES GO!

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Phoenix Coyotes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets - Game #37 Preview

OdinMercer — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:18:05 -0000

by Jay LaPrete - AP

5 days ago: Phoenix Coyotes' Robert Lang, left, of the Czech Republic, celebrates his game-winning goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets' with teammates Shane Doan, center, and Martin Hanzal, also of the Czech Republic, after the shooout of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. The Coyotes defeated the Blue Jackets 2-1. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

View full size photo »

A little bit of a busy day here in Coyote land. We signed on Anders Erikkson. Yeah. Take that every other team! Wait, who's Anders Eriksson? All I know is he's played for half a dozen NHL teams and almost as many different leagues. Supposedly Dave King had him on a team is Russia and we've seen him a bit down in San Antonio. Beats me. I don't get the signing but I'll trust GM Don Maloney for now, hey, it's worked so far.

On to the quick 5 for tonight:

Five for Winning

Knock It Off With the Friggin' Penalties!
I mean really. You're just killing yourselves guys. 9 penalties last game. Killed your momentum at the beginning of the last Jackets' game the same way. It's hard to get the offense going or play consistant defense when you're spending half the game in the box. I'm sure the staff let them know how costly these are if they didn't already figure it out for themselves.

Doan Took it Up a Notch
While he had been finding it hard to find of the back of the net, he did against the Ducks on Saturday. He was one of the few bright spots for the team as he was everywhere trying to make things happen. Hopefully now that we've moved beyond his 1000th game he get really start finding his groove for the year. With a couple of exceptions his seasons do have him getting hot in the second half of seasons and well, at game 37 this is about the time.

The Bryz Softies are Back...
While overall Ilya Bryzgalov has played outstanding in goal for the Coyotes, one thing is concerning. The return of the softie. While it isn't nearly as bad as it was last season, the return of the goals in concerning. Bryz had simply shut the door so hard early going that we didn't see these things. But in Detroit there were the two goals from near the blue line. And then in Anaheim there were a couple that he should have had but just couldn't get to. While i'm not getting the alarm bells out yet Bryzzie need to keep his head right and not let those goals get to him.

What Was Wrong With the Kids?
I really don't get this Eriksson signing. I mean I know Sami Lepisto and David Schlemko aren't the ideal guys we'd have in there, but they've been pretty solid filling in for the injured Kurt Sauer. Why bring in this guy? I know I just said I would trust GMDM, but Really? Even the fans from other teams he's been on are shocked. Basically saying he's just this side of useless. Though he can wrack up some assists, he doesn't really add much else. We'll see what he is tonight though. Hopefully it's not a wreck.

Finally We're Back Home.
Sure it was just a short roadtrip and we didn't do terribly, but our home record certainly has improved over what it was in the past. We're 12-5-0 so far this year in an arena that's been often criticized for having terrible ice. Maybe we've finally turned that into an advantage. Either way if we're going to make it into the postseason we';ll have to keep it up as we're about a .500 team once we go on the road (9-8-2).

Key Players

Shane Doan

#19 / Right Wing / Phoenix Coyotes

Height: 6-1

Weight: 224

Born: Oct 10, 1976

Why not? The Captain is starting to get on a roll. Shootout goal, goal in Anaheim. Let's see if he can keep it going tonight against the Blue Jackets.

Rick Nash

#61 / Left Wing / Columbus Blue Jackets

Height: 6-4

Weight: 218

Born: Jun 16, 1984

Who else am I going to pick? He's still Rick Nash. He still scores goals and he likes to get them against us. NOT TONIGHT!

The Owie List

Phoenix Coyotes Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date

Kurt Sauer head 10/07/2009

Columbus Blue Jackets Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player Injury Type Injury Date

Rostislav Klesla groin 12/01/2009

Derek Dorsett hand 12/13/2009

Penalties Doom Coyotes in 4-2 Loss to Ducks

OdinMercer — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:32:20 -0000

I don't know what else to say about that. Sure Ilya Bryzgalov would like a couple of those goals back. Maybe we needed to convert a few more scoring chances. But mainly we needed to stay out of the freaking penalty box. I was so angry at the ones we were taking too. Holding, Hooking, Tripping, just dumb stick penalties. Overall we took 9 penalties, including a penalty shot, which luckily they didn't convert. Practically the only reason we lost this game was being short handed so often. There's just no excuse for it... I give up on this recap... here's the video highlights.

Coyotes at Ducks - Game #36 Gamethread

OdinMercer — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:40:50 -0000

Next Game

Phoenix Coyotes		Anaheim Ducks

21-12-2		13-14-7
44 points		33 points
6th in Western Conference		15th in the Western Conference

Saturday, Dec 19, 2009, 2:00 PM MST
Honda Center

TV: Center Ice/Gamecenter only
Radio: XTRA 910AM

Opposition Blogs: Anaheim Calling and Battle of California

Phoenix Coyotes @ Anaheim Ducks - Game Preview #36

posted by OdinMercer about 1 hour ago

0 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

GO YOTES GO!

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Phoenix Coyotes @ Anaheim Ducks - Game Preview #36

OdinMercer — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:52:49 -0000

The Dead Zone: Where it seems every Coyotes -Ducks game is broadcast.

The Coyotes and Ducks meet this afternoon for the fourth time this season, and for the third time, neither team is broadcasting the game on television. Last game the Coyotes scrambled at the last minute to put the arena feed with radio coverage on Center Ice, but not this time. Can someone in the league offices please make sure that Someone is broadcasting every game? I mean seriously people pay good money to see all the hockey games and then we hit these types of games? Ridiculous. Not only that but most fans have only been able to see 1 of the games between these teams all year! I get that they're Pacific division opponents and that we see them all the time, but really? 1 of 4. Stellar job guys.

And as I'm typing this we get word that the game will once again be broadcast with the arena feed and Ducks radio. Well at least I get to see it since I have Center Ice, but everyone else is outta luck.

Five for Winning

Play Strong, but not Desperate Defense
It seemed like our defense and players in general were all over the place against the Blue Jackets on Thursday. A defense should be moving, but they were jumping all over the place to try and cover the Jacket's attackers. Typically when they get like that bad things happen, but they made it work of them on Thursday. They'll need to calm things down tonight though.

Point Pinching
The lone regulation goal was netted by Keith Yandle when he came in from the point to bury one. When done right that type of play has been extremely effective for us not only by Yandle, but Jovanovski, Vandermeer and Aucoin have all been productive for us when they come into the play.

Shootout Boost?
Both Shane Doan and Robert Lang have been slow to get on track with their goal scoring this year. However in the shootout they were the go to guys for Coach Dave Tippet and both of them buried their chances. Sure, they aren't regulation goals, and they don't show up on the score sheet, but maybe they can finally help both guys find the back of the net.

Stop Taking Dumb Penalties
The Coyotes took all kinds of sloppy penalties in the last game. another too many men, several stick infractions, just lazy stuff that sent them to the box. Sure out PK has been great, but you can only give the other team so many chances before they make you pay like Rick Nash did.

Leave no Doubt!
The Coyotes have won two of the three meetings against the Ducks this year, but all three games have been decided by one goal. How about this time we locate some of that offence that we found in Toronto and let our division rival have it.

Key Players

Taylor Pyatt

#14 / Left Wing / Phoenix Coyotes

Height: 6-4

Weight: 230

Born: Aug 19, 1981

Jonas Hiller

#1 / Goalie / Anaheim Ducks

Height: 6-2

Weight: 193

Born: Feb 12, 1982

While he may not have scored in the last game, Taylor Pyatt has found his scoring touch as of late and on an energy line has found ways to score important goals. We'll need those goals to beat Jonas Hiller who has an impressive record against the Coyotes at 7-0-2 with 2.20GAA and .927 Sv%

The Owie List

Phoenix Coyotes Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Kurt Sauer	head	10/07/2009

Anaheim Ducks Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Teemu Selanne	hand	12/04/2009
Ryan Carter	foot	11/12/2009
Joffrey Lupul	back	12/09/2009

Coyotes Continue Hot Streak with 2-1 Shootout Win

OdinMercer — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:59:05 -0000

More photos » by Jay LaPrete - AP

5 days ago: Phoenix Coyotes' Sami Lepisto, left, of Finland, and teammate Keith Yandle celebrate a goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Browse more photos »

As Dave Strader said at the end of the game, sometimes you play well and get a tough loss and sometimes you play poorly and manage to get the win. That Coyotes were definitely the latter tonight as they probably didn't deserve the W in that performance.

Just 1:48 into the game Keith Yandle took a Jackets' turnover and weaved through a surprised Columbus Defense to take Mathieu Garon top shelf for the Coyotes only regulation goal. The Coyotes would play about 5 more minutes of their typical puck controlling game before the parade to the penalty box started. For the rest of the night the Coyotes seemed to find any way they could to get back into the penalty box. too many men on the ice, silly interference calls. Whatever it took. The box attendant brought lots of Christmas cookies or something I guess. It didn't help to have Rick Nash trying to sell every tap that he received as an elbow. We were really doing enough to shoot ourselves in the foot without a dive thrown in.

Despite all of our poor play we managed to play some decent defense. While Jason LaBarbera did have many issues in terms of effectively getting the puck to his teammates he was solid in goal all night. He stopped the Jackets on many chances that looked easy to convert. He was able to hold them at bay until the middle of the third when after yet another penalty Rick Nash buried in on the Power Play. The Coyotes were even able to weather a penalty the went through the final minute of the 3rd and into overtime. The Coyotes continued to play on their heels for most of the OT frame as well as they just couldn't get much going. Shane Doan almost became the hero after getting the puck in the slot all alone in the slot. Mathieu Garon made a great glove save though to force the shootout.

In the skills competition Kristian Huselius started things off for the Blue Jackets but got stonewalled by LaBarbera. Radim Vrbata was first on the Coyotes side but got push wide to the left and couldn't keep a handle on the puck. Rick Nash then made a sick move on Jason LaBarbera faking him to the left and then pulled the puck through the crease to score. Shane Doan was up next and he put it into the top right corner to even things up. Fedor Tyutin came up next but didn't even get the shot off as LaBarbera poke checked the puck away before he really got close. Robert Lang was the third shooter for the Coyotes and didn't take what was the hardest move, but wristed the puck straight through Mathieu Garon's pads to end the Game and earn the two points.

Overall I didn't like how the Coyotes played. Somehow they found a way to keep the chances to a minimum but they were throwing themselves everywhere and couldn't get any kind of steady system going. LaBarbera bailed them out and all the bounces seemed to go their way. We can't plan on getting too many more gifts like we did tonight though. The guys should be able to recharge and get things back on track for Saturday's game against the Ducks.

Daryl Jones, COO of Ice Edge on HNIC Radio

OdinMercer — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:56:54 -0000

Daryl Jones, COO of Ice Edge on HNIC Radio

Talks a lot about the games in Saskatoon, about what the business model looks like and letting Dave Tippett and Don Maloney run the Hockey Ops side of things.

Coyotes at Blue Jackets - Game #35 Gamethread - Did Someone Call an Exterminator?

OdinMercer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:54:44 -0000

Next Game

Phoenix Coyotes		Columbus Blue Jackets

20-12-2		14-14-6
42 points		34 points
7th in Western Conference		13th in the Western Conference

Thursday, Dec 17, 2009, 5:00 PM MST
Nationwide Arena

TV: FSN Arizona

Radio: XTRA 910 AM

Opposition Coverage: The Cannon

Phoenix Coyotes at Columbus Blue Jackets Preview - Game #35

posted by OdinMercer 5 minutes ago

0 comments | 0 recs

Complete Coverage >

GO YOTES GO!

AWOOOOOOOOOOO!

Phoenix Coyotes at Columbus Blue Jackets Preview - Game #35

OdinMercer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:44:45 -0000

More photos » by Paul Vernon - AP

about 1 month ago: Columbus Blue Jackets' Rick Nash, right, fights for the puck with Phoenix Coyotes' Daniel Winnik in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. The Coyotes won 4-1. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Browse more photos »

The Coyotes continue their 4 game road trip in Columbus tonight against the Blue Jackets. The two teams have split the two previous meetings with the Jackets winning in Phoenix 2-0 and the Coyotes winning in Columbus 4-1. The Coyotes will be leaning on backup Jason LaBarbera in the second game of the back-to-back.LaBarbera Has Been up and down on how his starts have gone, but last time he faced the Blue Jackets he did pretty well only allowing the one goal.

The Coyotes are coming off a big win in Toronto downing the Leafs 6-3 and suddenly finding the offense all at once. Let's hope we have at least a little left in the tank for tonight.

Five for Winning

Shane Doan's 1000th Game
It may not show up on a stat sheet (though it may, I don't really know) but this will certainly an emotional game for not just the Captain, but for the other guys on the team. Doan has been a great guy for this team both on the ice and off and to have had him on the team for the entirety of his NHL career is something you just don't see with many players in any professional league anymore. I want to see both him , or barring that, the team win this one tonight for him.

Lots of Jackets on Fire
While the Blue Jackets may have lost 3 games in a row, several of their players have been finding a scoring touch lately. Rick Nash is back on a point per game pace and RJ Umberger has gotten multiple points 5 times now, most recently on the 14th against Nashville. Jason Chimera and Antoine Vermette have also been generating points for Columbus lately.

Garon Gets the Start Again
Mathieu Garon will get the start against the Coyotes tongiht, just as he did last time we visited Columbus (see 4-1 win above). This time though it's not just to give Steve Mason a night off, but because Mason has not done well of late (1-5-1 in December). Garon isn't a bad goalie, but as we've shown he's certainly someone we can beat.

No More Speed Bumps
With how these two teams have been playing as of late this is a team that the Coyotes should in theory beat. We can't go into the building being confident in that fact, or with how we played last night. Be confident in yourselves, but not to the point that we start getting complacent again or you get what happened in Detroit the other night. Play the same plan and same system that Tippet has preached all year and don't sit back.

Get the Czechs Out There
The line of Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal and Petr Prucha has been on fire lately. Just last night they combined for 3 goals and 4 assists. Hanzal alone had 3 of the As. Everytime the staff tries to move people around and tamper with that line the guys are less productive on their own. So don't touch it! Just put them out there as much as possible and see how long this can continue.

Players to Watch

Shane Doan

#19 / Right Wing / Phoenix Coyotes

Height: 6-1

Weight: 224

Born: Oct 10, 1976

Game 1000 for Captain Coyote. Maybe he brought some fireworks for all of us tonight!

Rick Nash

#61 / Left Wing / Columbus Blue Jackets

Height: 6-4

Weight: 218

Born: Jun 16, 1984

I hate him and his highlight goals. NO MORE! Shut the man down. If someone is going to beat us, make sure it's not him.

The Owie List

Phoenix Coyotes Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Kurt Sauer	head	10/07/2009

Columbus Blue Jackets Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Rostislav Klesla	groin	12/01/2009
Derek Dorsett	hand	12/13/2009

Coyotes Trounce Leafs 6-3 in Front of Collected Canadian Media

OdinMercer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:19:50 -0000

More photos » by Frank Gunn - AP

6 days ago: Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mike Komisarek, left, reacts as Phoenix Coyotes right winger Petr Prucha (16), of the Czech Republic, celebrates his goal during first-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto on Wednesday, Dec.16, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Frank Gunn)

Browse more photos »

Let's be honest. Last night's win wasn't really about 2 points to the Phoenix Coyote fans. It wasn't about beating a canadian team, or any type of grudge match against the Maple Leafs themselves. It was in fact a great (if not-really-significant) middle finger to the mass of media that covers the Leafs and the NHL in general from the "center of the hockey universe."

All summer we had to endure article after article, generally from the Globe & Mail but also the other Ontario and Canada papers. We watched our team and fans be torn to shreds in the media. To walk into the Air Canada Centre and dominate a Leafs team that, while not great, has certainly been on a roll lately just to show in their own house that we're a real hockey team was magnificent.

Would it have been just as great to win a hard fought 3-2 game? Sure. But listening to the Toronto crowd sit stunned as our team that was supposed to be moved, or folded, or just simply be irrelevant make Vesa Toskala and the Leafs defense look silly was just awesome for Coyote fans.

Okay. I'm done with my little rant about how good that was. Here are some quick thoughts so I can get on with the Columbus preview and the game coming up soon:

Petr Prucha's two goals were great to see. He's got miles of potential, but in his past time in New York he had lost something. Maybe he can find himself back on a roll now that the Vrbata - Hanzal - Prucha line is back together
Martin Hanzal quietly had an awesome game with 3 assists.
Paul Bissonnette's goal was great simply for seeing how excited both he and his dad were.
Ilya Bryzgalov still played extremely well even if he did give up 3 goals.
The Coyotes scored 6 goals for the first time since the season opener in Los Angeles
Daniel Winnik also had 2 assists and has been so very close to several goals. If he keeps working as hard as he has then they'll start coming to him.

That's all I really have for right now. On to Shane Doan's 1000th game in Columbus.