Tonight, the Detroit Red Wings and the Phoenix Coyotes play game 4 of the Conference Quarterfinals at Jobing.com arena.  The Red Wings have shown that they were a better team than the last ten games of the regular season suggested, and the Coyotes have shown quite the opposite.

The Red Wings ripped a page from the Coyotes' playbook and played a more physical game against them, and have just confused the desert dogs.  The pucks have found ways behind the Coyotes' netminder Ilya Bryzgalov and the team looks like they have more questions than answers.

Will the Red Wings complete the sweep? Will the Coyotes find ways to extend the series to five?

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The war between the Detroit Red Wings and the Phoenix Coyotes continues as the series enters game 3 at Jobing.com arena.  The Red Wings escaped with a 4-3 victory over the Coyotes and now take a commanding lead 2-0 of the best of seven.

The Coyotes have been a tale of two teams where we have seen the best and the worst with more of the latter than the former.  However, Coyotes' captain Shane Doan has been trying to lead the pack out of the wilderness and the team almost brought the game to OT Saturday afternoon.

It's the proverbial must win for the Desert Dogs.  Can they pick up their first victory of the series?

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The Phoenix Coyotes continue their playoff run in the second of the seven game series against the Detroit Red Wings.  The Red Wings took the first game Wednesday night beating the Coyotes 4-2.

After coming out strong with Kyle Turris drawing the first goal, the Coyotes squandered their man-advantage opportunities, the momentum clearly went to the team from Detroit, and they never responded.

What's on tap for tomorrow?  What will the Coyotes need to do to take a game away from the Red Wings and come home 1-1 with their rabid fans waiting for their return? Can the extended break between games work to their advantage instead of their disadvantage?

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Tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes fly up to northern California to take on the San Jose Sharks for the final game of the series and the regular season.  The Coyotes took care of business in their own barn last night as they qualified for the playoffs and finally won a game against a team that definitely had their number.  They played a tenacious game with a relentless forecheck and, at times, looked to be the more desperate team.

Even though the Coyotes qualified, there is still more work to do as a victory tonight could impact the seeding for the upcoming playoffs.

So instead of recapping, predicting, working through the angles on the ice, here's a better picture: this is what the Coyotes will play for tonight.

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The San Jose Sharks swim in for the final home game against the Phoenix Coyotes.  The Sharks have already punched their playoff ticket whereas the Coyotes have to gain one point in their last two games, or have the Dallas Stars lose one point in their last two games.

The stakes couldn't be higher.  The Sharks have sniffed blood in the water and have just taken it to their opponents and the Coyotes had their opportunities to come together and do the same.

What will happen?  Will it come down to the final game, or can the Coyotes ensure that they return to the post-season for the second consecutive year?

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Tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes make the trek to face the Los Angeles Kings that could have important playoff implications.  It's the last meeting between these two Pacific Division rivals that could be a preview for the upcoming post-season series.

Good thing too as it's the third of the last game of the campaign - awesome to have important games that truly matter in the latter stages of the year.

Will the Kings hold on to their dictatorship?  Can the Coyotes energize an uprising and gain the necessary advantage for the post-season?

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The Dallas Stars return to Jobing.com to face the Phoenix Coyotes for their final meeting of the season. Both teams are desperate for wins as Dallas is trying to climb over two teams to qualify for the playoffs and Phoenix is chasing the division lead.

Dallas and Phoenix are facing significant challenges. The Stars have won one game in their last six and the Coyotes have important players out of the lineup.

What will happen tonight? Can the Coyotes win without key members of the scoring committee?

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The Columbus Blue Jackets join the Phoenix Coyotes on the third of a six game homestand Thursday night. The Coyotes look to make it two in a row after picking up an ugly win against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

It will be a homecoming of sorts as former Coyotes Scottie Upshall and Sami Lepisto make their return to the valley after being traded for Rostislav Klesla.

Will the Coyotes be able to take two very important points from the Blue Jackets or will the return of Upshall and Lepisto thwart their plans?

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The Phoenix Coyotes continue their homestand by hosting the St. Louis Blues Tuesday night at Jobing.com arena.  The Coyotes earned their first regulation loss in eight games against the Chicago Blackhawks and it is certain that the Coyotes would want to rectify that situation.

The St. Louis Blues by contrast have run 3-5-1 as they try to finish an injury plagued season that held promise for the proud franchise.

Who will prevail tonight?  What will the Coyotes need to do to pick up these important two points?

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The Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks roll into town to face the Phoenix Coyotes for the first game of their six game home stand and it's the last regular season meeting between these two teams. 

Even though the Coyotes are celebrating a successful road trip that had them collect all eight available points and perform a sweep of the western Canadian teams, former Chicago Blackhawk captain Adrian Aucoin also celebrates 1000 games of service in the NHL and he will be honored during a pre-game ceremony.

This season's series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Phoenix Coyotes has been decided by one goal with the Coyotes holding a 2-0-1 record over the Blackhawks. Will the Blackhawks spoil the party and take two points away from the Coyotes?  Will the Coyotes fall victim to the trap of the first home game after a successful road trip?

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It is a Tale of Two Cities for the Phoenix Coyotes.  After beating the NHL's worst team in the Edmonton Oilers, tonight they face the NHL's best in the Vancouver Canucks.  The Canucks have already punched their ticket to the post-season by clinching the division title and earning the right to be called NHL's best with 103 points and ten games remaining.

The Coyotes by contrast still have work to do to solidify their position in the standings and they are collecting every point they can to make a second consecutive appearance in the playoffs.

Is grabbing two points from Vancouver in any way possible?  Can they continue their win streak tonight?  Or better yet, will Vancouver let them?

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The Phoenix Coyotes complete their final skirmish of their personal Battle of Alberta as they enter Rexall Place to face the Edmonton Oilers.

These two teams have been running in almost opposite directions as the Coyotes have put together a five game unbeaten streak, winning their last three consecutive games.  The Oilers though have lost four in a row, with a 5-1 beating at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Will this be an easy two points for the Desert Dogs?  Is the Oilers' engine so beyond repair that they can only limp to the finish line before they rebuild?

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The Phoenix Coyotes begin their first skirmish in their final Battle of Alberta Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames.  After shutting them out 3-0 at Jobing.com arena, they will have to face this team in one of the toughest places to play - the Scotiabank Saddledome.

The Flames have lost two in a row, including a tough 4-3 loss against Vancouver where they were up 2-0 in the first period.  The Coyotes by contrast have won two straight collecting five points in six games.

Will the Coyotes prevail by taking yet another two points from a Western Conference rival?

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The Anaheim Ducks are two positions outside of the playoff picture with 79 points.  In their last ten games, they have gone 5-4-1 and currently on a two-game win streak.  With their last two victories they have outscored their opponents 11-4.

The Phoenix Coyotes currently share the eighth spot with four other teams all vying for position tied at 81 points.  In their last time games, they have gone 4-4-2.  Even though they blanked the Calgary Flames 3-0 Thursday night, the grind has been a tough one for the Desert Dogs losing many players to injury.

It's the best part of the season - the chase for the playoffs where every game matters more than the previous one.  With this important divisional game this evening, there will be a minor sorting with the Ducks staying outside the playoff picture or having a share of the logjam that currently exists with the 8th and final playoff spot.

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"It ain't over 'til it's over."

                                       Yogi Berra

The Coyotes and their fans have been through the wringer for the past two years and for the past week.  From ownership situations that change daily and from out-of-market fans that would love to see something spearheaded by Gary Bettman fail, the passionate Coyotes fan could be depressed just thinking about it.

Not to mention the players who must play through it night after night wondering if they're going to move to different location.

And the support and arena staff who fear for their jobs.  And the surrounding businesses who have bet on the Coyotes staying here.

So, despite the loss of a point yesterday to the extremely fortunate Vancouver Canucks, and the media scrum that preceded the game, there are many positives to take away from last night's drama that should embolden everyone, just a little bit longer.

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The Vancouver Canucks roll into Jobing.com Tuesday night to face the Phoenix Coyotes for their last meeting at home.  Vancouver is the top team in the NHL collecting 93 points and just dominating the hockey landscape.

The Phoenix Coyotes meanwhile have struggled after putting together eight straight wins, even leading the Pacific Division at one point during that stretch, only to squander points by losing five in a row before their majestic come-from-behind win against the Detroit Red Wings Saturday night.

The underlying questions:  Are the Vancouver Canucks vulnerable at all?  I mean, can they just not lose a game?  And can the Coyotes continue to build on a momentous night and catch their third wind to ride into the playoffs?

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