Yotes: An Uncanny Trade Deadline Rarity. . .

Darren Pang: "I've never, in all my hockey years, seen three players that came from three different teams be on the same line and have as much chemistry as those three guys right there: Scottie Upshall, Petr Prucha, and Matthew Lombardi. And they stick up for one another. They battle hard for one another. Their on ice synergy is uncanny. You think about it. You are at trade deadline, you bring in three individuals that are all positions that compliment. A left wing, a center, and a right wing and. . .[good natured laughter].

Strader: "Yeah it's incredible."

Pang: "It's uncanny."

You know, it's funny. In the month I've watched Petr Prucha on his new team, I've had similar thoughts. How odd is it to have one of the most consistent lines for the Phoenix Coyotes, be made up of three guys who all came from different teams? It is odd. It is remarkable.

And it's been a pleasure to watch.

Pang: "You see how fundamentally sound that line is. And Petr Prucha makes such great defensive reads. He's always around the puck, always supporting the puck."

Please, seriously, someone go get Tom Renney - RIGHT NOW - and have him read this blog! (kidding, kidding...)


The three of them do have a ton of synergy. A similar mind set. And they come to each other's defense too.

When Pete got knocked into the boards, Scottie Upshall was after the guy smacking him with his stick.

When Gauthier and Upshall (two former Flyer guys) got into a little tussle, it didn't take long for everyone to see the little fireball, Prucha, skate and throw himself onto the pile of guys, coming away with someone.

Pete's the kind of guy that has always done that for his teammates - any of his teammates. This next statement is not a swipe at any Rangers, BUT, it's nice to see his current teammates do the same for him.


Prucha gets smashed again to the boards.

Pang: "He gets hit hard doesn't he, Prucha? And then he just gets right back up."

"All three of those guys - Upshall, Lombardi, Prucha. They get hit, they get up. They go right back to work."

You may ask why I am writing all this, why I continue to keep track so closely of my favorite Ranger departed and where he is now.

I can say, with absolute certainty, that even in the games that the Coyotes have lost, I have had much more enjoyment from watching their team and their effort than I have from watching the Rangers team and effort this spring.

Look, I am - was, always will be - a Rangers fan, but when pepperpot Prucha became a departed Ranger, I got the opportunity to follow a new team. A team that has a lot of young guys, a lot of spark, and are a lot of fun to watch. And Prucha, along with Lombardi and Upshall, have played a BIG part in that. Not just for me, but for Phoenix. They have, all three of them, put up really nice numbers since trade deadline for their new team. And they've looked like they've been playing together for ages.

Which brings me to my next thought. What does it take to get them all to stay there next year? Prucha and Upshall are both RFAs after this season and made comparable money (1.6 versus 1.23 - apx). Lombardi has one year left on a 1.8 million dollar deal after which he is a UFA.

If you are the Phoenix Coyotes, do you want to keep them there? I say, based on what I've seen so far, you'd have to assume yes. Gretzky loves these type of players and while there is a plethora of extra guys, not one of these guys has seen the press box yet.

It's funny too. Strader pointed out a week or so ago that the Coyotes had some 30+ year old vets - the Doans, Klees, Jovos - and some 19 and 20-year-olds - the Turris, Boedker, Mueller crowd - but they lacked anybody in between. That, he said, was another reason GM Don Maloney went after guys like Upshall (25), Prucha (26), and Lombardi (27 ). To provide that balance between the veterans and the rookies. And biased though you may think I am, I think they've filled the role admirably.

So if I'm the Coyotes, I'm thinking yes. I'm thinking these three guys have the right attitude, the right talent, and the right chemistry. And they will not break the bank.

If I'm the players, I say, why not. You fight perhaps your whole career to find chemistry with players. When you get it, you want to hold on to it. If one player makes the others better, and it goes around full circle, you think they'd want to continue that, even for one year, to see how it goes.

Now, that might not be the way all professional athletes do think or will think, but if I were Coyotes management, I'd work hard to make sure all three of these guys were in the desert next season.

**On edit, I just finished skimming/watching the Coyotes/Kings match from Saturday night. Perhaps the first insight into one of the uncanny three's feelings in Phoenix. In being asked about Phoenix and if he's thinking about if he wants to stay next year, Scottie Upshall said:

"This is a great opportunity for us young guys coming in, with a little different atmosphere, more chances to show what you can do. And right now I'm getting to play with some great players and things are good here. I can only say good things about the opportunity I've had and I'm excited about this."

On playing for Wayne Gretzky:

"It helps to have Gretz on the bench patting you on the back when you make good plays and send you out there in key opportunities. It says a lot. I'm excited. I'm back to having fun and playing good hockey."

And there you have it.


**Author's note: Sorry for this being a few days late. Original quotes above were from Phoenix's 2-1 win versus Los Angeles on April 2nd. Following Upshall quote from 4/4/09.**

Rangers in Brief:

In Rangers news, I agree 1000% percent with all Larry Brook's wrote in today's NY Post. I would comment on it, but you know what, he did it perfectly, so I don't need to just yet. I'll bookmark that article and use it when I analyze the Rangers season in a week (or two, or maybe perhaps even three).

Yotes: A Second Life In The Desert. . .

Prucha is merely one of a handful of guys seeing new life in the desert for the Coyotes since trade deadline day, but he is most certainly the player we, as Rangers fans and devote fans of the Ranger departed, are most happy to see succeed.

Last night's telecast of the Stars/Coyotes game on Versus began and ended with discussion on our Petr Prucha. The final notes being one of dramatic fashion.



But before we get there, let's start, as we should, at the beginning.

Dave Strader (Phoenix) and Daryl Reaugh (Dallas) had the call of the game, so that meant perhaps more introspective on Phoenix than may usually happen in a Versus telecast. (Note: Keith Jones in studio said it was a perfect time to get "reaquainted" with the Coyotes; a team you can bet he hasn't watched all that much unless they were on VS in the fall).

Dave and Daryl focused on three Phoenix players to start the game - Scottie Upshall (3-4-7), Matthew Lombardi (5-4-9), and Petr Prucha (1-5-6). Those are their point totals in their 12 games with the Coyotes since trade deadline. That's 9 goals, 22 points, and a combined +3.

Now, those who have been watching the Coyotes from back East - and I am not alone - know that this line, although together for perhaps games three through maybe six of that span, have not played non-stop together. BUT, they have almost always, and from the beginning, looked very much in sync.

The announcing team credits that to the fact that they "play the right way, the way that Wayne Gretzky wants the entire roster to play. They compete hard for pucks and are gritty in the offensive zone."

Tonight Phoenix's uncontested top line played no differently.

Upshall scored two goals, both assisted by Lombardi and Prucha, and both in a similar tic-tac-toe fashion. One a nice passing play in close and the second coming into the zone with Lombardi dropping the puck back for Upshall to take the blast from the point.

Prucha was a main topic of conversation for Daryl and Dave. Here are some highlights.

Daryl: "This is one area where Petr Prucha can help the Coyotes. His rookie season with New York, he was dynamic on the powerplay. Obviously [he] has faded in that department and out of favor in New York. But his second life [is] here in the desert."

Dave: "He played a lot of that season with Jaromir Jagr and Marty Straka. When I asked him about scoring the 30 goals, he said, well, you know, it was a lot easier playing with those guys."

This has always been a hotly contested battle between Prucha supporters and, well, let's just say those that say he was lucky in who he played with. But I hold true, and goodness knows if I had time I'd review the video tapes I have floating around, to prove my point, but he did not always play with Jagr, certainly not when Nylander and Straka were Jagr's linemates for the majority of that season.

Now Prucha may have scored his powerplay goals with benefit of Jagr, as did many other guys in this league. But he played five on five with guys like Steve Rucchin, Marty Ruchinsky, Petr Sykora. Those are nice players, but Petr paved his own path, make no mistake. It was not without his own talent and effort that he got to 30 goals in this league.

Daryl: "Good little play by Petr Prucha on that faceoff. He won the draw and then made himself available for the tip in after. Remember back in his rookie year. He was right in the conversation with Crosby and company, scoring goals at similar rates. And then he fell out of favor in New York and could never work his way back up the ladder to be a regular guy with the Rangers."

Dave: "He basically told the New York media that he wasn't very good at English. I did and interview with him last week and he's a wonderful young man with a sense of humor. His English is far better than he would lead you to believe. He just explained to me the biggest problem for a lot of guys like him is being properly understood or understanding the exact question they're being asked. He's always worried about being taken out of context."

Daryl: "You can speak on the ice. You don't need any language down there and he's getting every opportunity here. He's looked good tonight."

As the game went on, they kept coming back to the top line, calling Prucha "relentless," and saying how its the tenacity of the entire line that makes them tick.

Look, we as fans of Prucha don't need to be told how fantastic he is. We know. We always knew. But it provides insane pleasure for me to hear other people say it.

It was too long in New York between hearing wonderful things about Petr Prucha. His determination and good attitude were never in question and continually lauded by media and teammates alike. But what about the fact that he is a legit and talented hockey player. That got lost, as so much else sometimes does in New York.

But back to the game for a minute.

Dallas, a team desperately trying to make the playoffs, although time nor points are in their favor, continued to come on hard especially in the late stages of the game. They scored first, and Phoenix scored twice to take the lead after one. The teams traded powerplay goals, and both took a few too many penalties. Phoenix appeared to collapse late, causing a 5-3 lead to evaporate and force the game into OT.

Where none other than Petr Prucha stepped on ice for some four on three action, after Dallas was called for a trip in the extra frame.

It took only 53 seconds into overtime when our favorite departed got in a good position after the faceoff, crept up close to the net, and scored the Coyotes first overtime winner of the season.

And the first overtime winner of his career.

Let's watch it again (and again...and again...) :)




For post game interviews, including a short one with a happily, smiling Prucha:




Gretzky said, "The three of them play the game the way the game should be played."

We as fans can't help but nod in agreement.


Here are all game highlights, as Enver Lisin also notched two goals and an assist in the total team effort:




Lastly an official write-up from Coyotes.com:

Petr Prucha: "It's a great feeling."


Petr Prucha is playing hockey again - a game he loves. As fans of his we have to love and embrace that. He's got to be at his happiest when he's playing a game he loves. And playing the game with more poise and confidence than I have seen him play in years.

As much as we all hate to admit it, this resurgence we are seeing - it sadly could not have happened in current day New York, the way things are now.

Instead it had to happen under a different sky, for the color of another team. A second life in the desert, perhaps.

He may be further away, and that's a painful reality, but if anything can help bridge the gap of 3000 miles, it's the joy of seeing our favorite player smile again.