Keep Your Heads Up, Coyotes. . .

So the season that was successful, ground-breaking, and franchise record
setting, came to a not-so-happy ending for the 2009-2010 Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night.

So what.

Woah, now, don't confuse the passive attitude with non-interest or disrespect. It's
neither!

Rather I don't want in any way to disrespect the team for all they did this season. To focus on the end and not the journey, in this case, would take away from all they accomplished. (And, man, did they accomplish a lot!)

Look, we'd all be in a much better state of mind if the Yotes powerplay didn't go dry in 5 out of 7 games, if regular season Lee Stempniak didn't forget how to score in the playoffs, and if Shane Doan didn't get so seriously hurt.

But...that's not the way it rolled. Sometimes all good intentions and better teams just don't get you there.

I think the Coyotes played well, and on many nights, as well as they could have. Games 5 and 7 didn't follow that mold. Many people thought they'd go down in 4 or 5 games.

Instead a squad of young, mostly inexperienced players took the two time
consequtive Western Conference champs to 7 games.

Hell, I thought the Coyotes would win in 6 games. Felt very confident in fact. Sometimes the good, and perhaps the better, teams fall.

Just ask Washington.

____________________________


Anyway, think of the positives of the playoffs.

Shane Doan got back there. True it was only for 2+ games and he was severely injured. But think back to game 1. When he was told to have fun before game 1 he said, "don't worry I will," with his trademark, glorious Doan-ish smile.

Keith Yandle took a big step towards joining the next ranks of breakout defensemen in the league. His game 1 performance was dominant. The only bad news, he won't be a silent weapon much longer. He's too good.

Matthew Lombardi and Martin Hanzal stepped up in the faceoff circle. Vital parts of this team. Hanzal, in fact, had a masterful performance, even in games the Coyotes did not play well. Guy is sometimes a little penalty prone, but he is young and learning.

Ilya Bryzgalov may not have had his best games at all moments but the guy
carried the team as best he could when the once steady, well-disciplined
defense in front of him fell. He will only grow from this. He's too good a goalie to not get the chance to experience more playoffs and improve in big games.

And Petr Prucha, the oft-scratched, rarely counted upon in do-or-die situations in the past (well, at least in New York), had the best night in his young playoff career in Game 3. A key assist on his tempo-setting first shift, a goal that undressed 6-time Norris winner Nick Lidstrom, and a well deserved first star of the game honor. All on a nationally televised game. And when their captain was injured, it was #16 that skated with Lombardi and Woltek Wolski. Think someone has gotten
their confidence back?

Anyway, I think we should focus on that. Not the powerless powerplay, not the
defensive lapses, not the things we can't control. (And that seemingly the team could not control either).

They got a taste now. They will be hungrier next year. Get the nerves out of their system now, and work to fix what they can - like the powerplay. This team will be in good shape. I'm confident.

And the cool thing about it all. They did get there. It may not have been MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, but it was mission accomplished.

A team no one thought would even contend - did. And they did all of their fans proud - the fans that have supported for years, the fans in Phoenix, and the fans from afar. They did us proud.

So bravo to them. And thank you. I don't think we'll ever forget this season in the desert. It was truly something to marvel at and there are no words to describe how happy I was and satisfied I am to have been one of the many taking their journey with them.

Thank you, 2009-2010 Phoenix Coyotes. We'll see you next season.

2010 Playoffs - Second Round Predictions. . .

Predictions, Short and Sweet, and Here We Go...

BOS/PHI - Boston in 6. (I think Philly had a nice run, but I think the Bruins are peaking now, and have the goaltending. No disrespect to Boucher though; he's one of the ones that got them there. But where the Flyers matched up against NJ well, they may not have that luxury against Boston).

MTL/PITT- Pittsburgh in 6. (I'm saying this, and hoping against hope that I am wrong, wrong, wrong. Go Jaro!!)

SJS/DET - Detroit in 7. (Same deal. I hate to think the Coyotes woke a sleeping giant in Detroit, but they may have. Both have at times questionable goaltending, Nabokov because of brain cramps and Howard because of youth. But often when Detroit makes it out of a vulnerable first round situation, they sail all the way through, no matter who is in net. I have more confidence in Detroit sailing to the Final, even over Pittsburgh.)

VAN/CHI - Vancouver in 7 (Season was pretty even this year. My reasoning in Round 1 - I'm not going against the Sedins right now. And I'm not changing my answer now. Even though I knew the Hawks had a test w/the Preds, they found themselves lacking some offensive power at times. Maybe this is Vancouver's year).


And just because I write it, does not mean I want it, folks. I'm rooting Boston, Montreal, San Jose, and...actually I don't mind either the Hawks or the Canucks. Hawks would be a bigger story (USA wise) if they went all the way though, but I still have a soft-spot for the Canucks of old.

Speaking of Petr Prucha. . .

He nets an assist on the franchise record quickest goal in playoff history 29 seconds in, plays on fire all night, and, oh yeah, scores the game winning goal - as the Coyotes beat Detroit in Game 3 of their best of 7 series. He was named #1 Star of the Game!

=)

Here are some photos. And a link to a great article on nhl.com. Get the Hankies out. (Again, not Lundqvist here).

"I finally have my spot in the lineup," said Prucha, who had 30 goals for New York in 2005-06 and 22 the following season before falling out of favor with the coaching staff. "It's always good to feel that you're important for the team and you can make something on the ice. I feel great."

"That was huge," Prucha said. "First shift, we had a 1-0 lead so we calmed down a little bit and took the momentum from them. We just kept going."

"That line, they compete hard, they do good things with the puck," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "When they chip in with some goals, that's really a bonus. They play against top players all the time. They're a group that really works well together."

"He's been a very good player for us all year," Tippett said. "I thought the last couple of weeks of the (regular) season and the first three games of the playoffs, he's been very good. Great work ethic. He's relentless on the puck, and that's what we need from that whole group."

"It's great for our confidence," Prucha said. "They stole one game from us in our house, and now we were able to do it in their house and we still have one more opportunity to do it one more time."

Confidence, right? All about a little confidence. =) *Oh and you are always a Star to us, Pete!




Go Yotes Go!

P.S. The Line on Petr Prucha. . .

**I wanted to mention this in the other blog, but I forgot.**

Since he was, reason beyond all reasons, why I have followed the Coyotes for the last 14 months, and since I know many feel the same, here is the 2009-2010 line on #16:

79 Games Played
- Ties career high set in 2006-2007 season

13 Goals
- Ties his total from the last two NHL seasons and his most since 2006-2007(22)

9 Assists
- The fewest he's ever had in any NHL season. Previous low was 2007-2008 (10)

22 Points
- His most since 2006-2007 season (40)

23 PIM
- 1 major (fight against Comrie) and 9 minors. Not bad for a guy that draws more than he takes.

128 Shots
- Best season since 2006-2007 (136 - also his career high)

10.2 Shooting %
- Highest since 2006-2007 (16.2). This is big because it boosted his career total back up to 14.2; it also means he's shooting more, thankfully.

4 Powerplay Goals

2 Powerplay Assists

2 GWG
- Ties career high, reached in both 2005-2006 and 2006-2007

14:02 Average TOI
- Career highest with exception of 19 games played with Phoenix in 2008-2009


His Career line is now:

Games Played: 335
Goals: 78
Assists: 67
Points: 145
Plus/Minus: -4
PIM: 129
Shots: 550
Shooting%: 14.2
PPG: 31
PPA: 22
GWG: 8


What this means? I'm going to write more on our favorite later. Let the numbers speak for themselves for now. ;)

Why To Root For Phoenix/Coyotes Preview. . .

Phoenix Coyotes Preview!

Okay, as if it hasn't been alluded to enough on twitter and here - the
Coyotes are a great story.

An outstanding story.

A phenomenal story.

Ask anyone - okay almost anyone - to predict this team would have the year
they did. And they'd be lying if they said they knew.

This is a small rundown of what they did.

Team:
107 points(4th)
50 Wins (4th)
29 home wins (Tied for 3rd in league with Chicago, behind Washington and Vancouver)
9 game winning streak - tying a franchise record
36-3-3 record when scoring 1st goal (amazing!)

Best of the Best:
Goals - Vrbata (24)
Points - Doan (55)
Assists - Doan (37)

Bryzgalov:
42 wins (3rd)
8 shutouts(2nd)
2.29 GAA(6th)
.920 Save% (T-8th)


107 points. (They had 79 last year!)

Good for 4th in the league behind Washington, San Jose, and Chicago. (Last year - they were 25th!)

This is the best season in franchise history!!

Read that again.

Their record against those teams, for those curious. Washington - 1 loss. San Jose - 2 wins, 1 loss, and 3 shootout losses. Chicago - 3 wins, 1 loss. (By the way, each of those three losses was by 2 goals.)

Not half bad.

_________________________________

If you haven't had the pleasure of watching them play, this is how they do it.

Solid goaltending. Defensive zone pressure. Unparalleled puck support.
Scoring from defense, scoring from an unlikely source of players. A team
concept. A true team support system.

In short, and since 1994, the most complete team I've had the pleasure of
watching.

The coolest part? They play so well so often. They are that good. Even cooler? When they aren't playing good enough - they don't need to be told. They know it, and they work to correct it.

Refreshing isn't it?

There are no superstars here. There doesn't need to be. They have an arguable candidate for best captain in the league, a Vezina worthy goalie, and a guy who is all but assured of the Jack Adams as coach.

But they have something else. Something perhaps intangible. This us-against-the-world. This pack mentality. This if you score I am as happy for you as if it had been me deal. A true sense of team. Of having everyone's back. Of the greater good of the team.

I figure I watched in full around 60 games, but part of around 78 this season. So I
feel I know this team well enough to speak to them.

The reasons I think they can and will beat Detroit are:

1) They never give up. This team has been down 2, 3, 4 goals and they've come back. And its not as if this was once or twice in October. All season. They can never be counted out.

2) There is always someone to step up. When Upshall went down, Vrbata
stepped up. When he slowed down, Lombardi picked up his game. When scoring slowed overall again, Lee Stempniak showed the world their is life beyond Toronto. This team may not have scored the most goals, but they've had the most balanced scoring in what they've had. True getting it done the team way.
_________________________

Look, is playing Detroit my favorite matchup for the Coyotes? No. But not my least favorite. That would have been Vancouver. As good as the Coyotes have been Vancouver has made them look not as good on given nights. But Detroit is still Detroit, I'm not so blind to see that.

However, I really feel people easily dismissing this team are looking at how great Detroit has been (and still is) and forgetting just how good the Coyotes are.

And yes, the Coyotes have not done this - this playoffs thing - as a team. But I think the most important thing is that their heads be in the right place. I trust Shane Doan. I trust Adrian Aucoin. I trust Dave Tippett. I trust these guys will help keep the younger guys in check.

One game does not a series make.

I think Detroit will get a game or two in there. It may even be tonight because it may just be "TOO MUCH" for the Coyotes in Game 1 with the crazy home crowd and the first White Out in way too long.

But the other thing I alluded to about the Coyotes. If they make mistakes tonight, they will come out a better team for it on Friday night for Game Two.

_______________________

Coyotes fans, enjoy and embrace. Your team is phenomenal and I've loved being able to root for them on this journey! Rangers fans, when you are done rooting against New Jersey (or Philly), Pittsburgh, etc, root for the Coyotes! They are the feel good story of the year.

One last thing and then we'll drop the puck. Why not the Coyotes?! Even if you don't think they have ANY chance of beating Detroit....has this team not obliterated everything almost every person thought of them THIS ENTIRE YEAR!?

Why not them?!

Why not the Coyotes?!

Join the Pack! ~ Go Coyotes!

Let the playoffs begin!

2010 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions - Round One

**Wrote these yesterday. Decided I will not tweek them today. Tempted but, what the hell. Going to go with my first instincts. Why? Cause that did so well the first time... ;)**
_____________________________________________________


Okay - without all the fuss because, quite frankly, I am too tired to do
more than that right now.


EASTERN CONFERENCE:

WASH/MTL - Washington in 6. (I think Halak can steal a game or two if he is on, but don't think the Caps will go home in Round 1)

NJ/PHI - Philly in 7. (Believe it or not, I will be rooting for Philly in this one. I don't know if they have enough to beat NJ but I had to pick an upset somewhere so, well, this is it)

BUF/BOS - Buffalo in 5. (I admire the Bruins recent play and if Rask can get hot, this is a whole different series. Meanwhile unless he stumbles, its Miller's moment to shine. He will be motivated).

PIT/OTT - Pittsburgh in 5. (And I will hate every minute of it.).


WESTERN CONFERENCE:

SJS/COL - San Jose in 4. (Allow for an off game for the Sharks, maybe, but I'm picking the sweep to come here. Colorado has trailed off much recently so I'm not sure it's fair to expect much more. San Jose likes to stumble, but unless they out and out crash, they will make it to RD 2).

CHI/NASH - Chicago in 7. (Pekke Rinne could make this interesting, and I
think this will be a better than expected series, but go with the Hawks. Is
this their year?)

VAN/LAK - Van in 5. (I like both these teams, with a slight edge to the Kings - because how cool is it they are back! But if I'm a betting person, I'm not going against anyone named Sedin right now. Sorry).

PHX/DET - Phoenix in 6. (The matchup I will be watching the closest for sure. You can never count Detroit out of anything, until they prove otherwise, so they get a game or two in there, but there is no way that I believe all the good solid goaltending, defensive stinginess, team attitude and support that got them there, won't push the Coyotes right on to the next round.)


Enjoy Round One everybody!! =)

Rangers Season End Rambling - Part 1:

Even though I said it'd be delayed, here is the first of what we can assume will be many rambling thoughts on the NYRs and their now over 2009-2010 season:

Should He Stay or Should He Go?

A handful of home games ago, I stopped and took note of who I wanted on the team next season, even before all of the late season push had gotten underway. I viewed at it "in an ideal world" of no contracts, no ties, just who I 100% wanted:

Staal
Del Zotto
Gilroy
Lundqvist
Auld
Prust
Shelley
Anisimov
Callahan
Avery
Prospal
Gaborik
Christensen

Not a bad team, really. Short 3 defensemen (gosh help us) and a line. But still...

(And please no one take offense that Dubinsky is absent from the above. I'm going on what I felt at the moment so in fairness I will not change now. Stones down, please ;) )



Voros and Boyle were borderline players to me as in I like what you did (Voros does deserve praise for being such a good teammate and stepping in during the 11th hour when needed. No hard feelings) and I'd keep you, but I'd rather fill those places with younger players, if we are being honest.

Eriksson was a nice complement.

And Jokinen, well, he was as useless as everyone in Florida, Phoenix, and Calgary could have told us.


However, if we step out of fantasy land and into the land of realistically speaking, the NYRs most likely are stuck with Drury, Redden, and Rozsival. So that changes the whole landscape.


And takes the fun out of my little game...

__________________________________

The season that passed and the way it ended. Want some initial thoughts? Sure. Okay.

The New York Rangers were only half a team when it counted. Only less than
half a team all year.

I want to reward the guys that did show up for this team. The ones that got
it. The ones you felt contributed.

Staal
Hank
Prust
Shelley
Anisimov
Christensen
Gaborik

Keep those that made strides or got it done before. Cally, Dubinsky, Del Zotto.

And try to not blow up the rest. Maybe they don't need a full rehaul. Maybe
they just need to retool one or two things.

But can they?

Age old question. Drury is going into year 4 of 5. Redden, year 3 of 6.
Rozsi year 3 of 5.

And still, I don't know how you combat that. And as much as you can never blame
them for accepting Fisher Price Glen's contracts and as much as you can't
forgive them for not performing anywhere half of what those contracts are
worth, where exactly is the middle ground? When do you cut the ties?

And I ask that more of R&R than Captain Mumbles, because let's face it.
Although Drury is worth one third of his contract, he's the most non-pc for
Torts to part with and the quickest to go away contract wise. I can live with one of
three and its his that they can best do the same.


But two years ago the hockey experts and I said R&R's contracts would
cripple the NYRs for years to come.

How is that any less true two years later?


I'm not saying two moves would make this team a contendor. I'm saying two
more moves would better prove just how far away they really are or aren't.

A real defensemen besides Staal. A real secondary or support scoring player
behind Gaborik.

These are no less important than they were two years ago. In fact, they are
drastically more important.

The teams around the NYRs are getting better, not worse. The Rangers saw
relative mediocrity get them into the playoffs in the past and within one
shootout win of it this year.

That won't be the case next year. We can lie to ourselves. They can lie to
themselves, but really now... Even if they did, how far would they go?

________________________________


I liked this team better, surely. I loved that they didn't trade the farm
on draft day. I love that shedding Kotalik and Higgins got us Prust! I
really do.

And as much as it sucked to go out when they did, I wasn't torn up.
Dissapointed yes. As much as they play for the chance, we root for the same
chance.

And it didn't happen.

But to say it wasn't something we were legitimately expecting would be ludicrous.

Meanwhile. It may be a good thing. Too easy to sneak in at game 82 and
ignore games 10 through 70. Its not my job to analyze what went wrong,
thankfully, but I hope to goodness someone uses this time off to do so.

Players. Coaches. Management.

As much as I would have liked those 4 extra games to cheer for, I would
like this even more.

I will be fine, watching other hockey. Teams like the Coyotes who jumped
from 25th to 4th (and 4th in pts) in the league.

Say it can't be done? They are proof that if you build a team of the right players who buy into the right system of the right coach - yes you can.

Seriously, you can.

I guess as much as we would all have liked to think so, the NYRs were just
not that close.

And won't be.

Not yet.

I do hope that someday - someday soon - the NYRs will give us the promise that
is possible for them too.

Because, it feels damn good to be a Rangers fan sometimes. Friday night was an example of that.

I hope next year we get to feel more of THAT!