Martin Hanzal

Sloppy Wings Suffer Big Loss To Coyotes

February 7, 2012

The Detroit Red Wings fall short again, losing 3 to 1 against the Phoenix Coyotes. The only player on the Red Wings that deserves any praise is Joey MacDonald. It was a relief to hear Babcock decided to start MacDonald tonight, who stopped 20 out of 22 shots on goal.

Unfortunately, MacDonald could not win the game for Detroit. It was as if Mike Smith could not steal enough from the Red Wings. Out of 31 shots, Smith saved a total of 30. He was all over; playing the puck defensively when needed and always being there to stop it. The Wings could not get anything past the sharp Mike Smith. The only time the Wings could squeeze a shot past was when ther...

Game Day: Philadelphia Flyers @ Phoenix Coyotes

December 3, 2011

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The first matchup featuring the Phoenix Coyotes and departed goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov didn't amount to a result they liked, what with Matt Read scoring the game-winning goal with just 18.6 seconds remaining in the final frame. Now, in their own barn, the Coyotes are looking for proper revenge. Problem is, they may not even get it as Sergei Bobrovsky might get the start in goal for the Flyers as they visit Jobing.com Arena.

The Flyers last faced another former team of Bryzgalov's, Anaheim, less than 24 hours ago. The Ducks got the jump on them with three goals, but the Flyers came back to take the game in overtime, 4-3. Phoenix is coming off a 1-0 loss against Winnipeg ...

Game Day: Dallas Stars @ Phoenix Coyotes

November 26, 2011

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With few words in the way of explanations or possible excuses (too much turkey?), the Phoenix Coyotes will look to rebound from a 5-0 loss against the Vancouver Canucks as early as tonight as they face the Dallas Stars.

"We didn't start very good, we didn't have a good middle and we didn't end very good. So that pretty much sums it up right there." - Dave Tippett [1]

Dallas also played last night, as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated them in the shootout, 4-3. Joffrey Lupul scored the goal that would eventually stand as the difference-maker between the two teams.

With that in mind, ironically, the story between these two teams t...

Game Day: Anaheim Ducks @ Phoenix Coyotes

November 23, 2011

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The contract saga between Kyle Turris and the Phoenix Coyotes concluded yesterday in a two-year, $2.8M deal that will see Turris earn $1.2M this season and $1.6M the next. Both sides spoke amicably of one another to the point where it's unclear if at some point later on this season, after enough on-ice exposure, Don Maloney will eventually grant Turris' wish of a trade. According to TSN, there are at least three teams currently interested (Ottawa, Calgary, Toronto).

Nevertheless, there is a game tonight. The Anaheim Ducks roll into town after having won just one game out of their last ten, and the Coyotes dropped their last game against Washington. Bot...

Game Day: Phoenix Coyotes @ Toronto Maple Leafs

November 15, 2011

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to regain the momentum they had at the beginning of the season when they led the Eastern Conference and the NHL in wins and points. They have since gone 5-5-0 in their last ten and will face a red-hot Coyotes team who have won five of their last seven, and last season beat them 5-1 in their only meeting of the season.

Toronto is still tied for 2nd place in the NHL in terms of wins, and continue to score almost three goals per game. They've also won two-thirds of the games in which they have trailed first. For their part, Phoenix has outscored their opponents 21-14 on the road and have not been beaten by the Leafs since October of 20...

Game Day: Phoenix Coyotes @ San Jose Sharks

November 12, 2011

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The Coyotes have packed their bags and set off en route to San Jose, as tonight marks the start of a five-game road trip. They dropped their last contest against the Canadiens in overtime Thursday night, as a Josh Gorges slapshot found its way behind goaltender Mike Smith at the 1:45 mark of the extra frame. The Sharks, who took the last game against their division rival Coyotes by a score of 6-3, are 8-1-1 in their last ten games and sport the best shots-per-game ratio of the NHL with an average of 36.

San Jose is also stellar on the power play at home (30%, a league-best rating). That fateful home opener on October 8th saw the Sharks capitalize three tim...

Game Day: Montreal Canadiens @ Phoenix Coyotes

November 10, 2011

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The Montreal Canadiens are coming off of a 3-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, and head into Jobing.com Arena as the first team the Coyotes have faced since they beat those same Oilers 4-2 on Saturday night. Phoenix, however, are winless against Montreal through the last 11 games between the two. Tonight's matchup also happens to be the 2500th against the Canadiens since the beginning of the Jets'/Coyotes' franchise.

The Canadiens are 4-5-1 in their last stretch of ten games, including four wins in a row, whereas Phoenix has hopped up to 8th spot in the Western Conference after going 6-3-1 in their last ten. This is the last time Phoenix...

Game Day: Edmonton Oilers @ Phoenix Coyotes

November 5, 2011

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The Edmonton Oilers, winners of six in a row, are off to their best start in a quarter-decade. They'll be the visitors tonight at Jobing.com Arena as they face off against the Phoenix Coyotes, who after a five-game unbeaten streak fell victim to Pekka Rinne's 23rd shutout on Thursday.

The Coyotes, who were 3-1 against the Oilers last season, sent Andy Miele back to the AHL's Portland Pirates yesterday, as Cal O'Reilly is expected to start tonight. Mike Smith will likely be the starting goaltender, and Martin Hanzal's status is still questionable. Out for the Oilers are Cam Barker, Ales Hemsky, Ryan Whitney and Darcy Hordichuk.

Game Day: Nashville Predators @ Phoenix Coyotes

November 3, 2011

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The Coyotes' second game in two nights will see them host the Nashville Predators at Jobing.com Arena as of 7:00 p.m., Arizona time. Last night the Coyotes won their third game in the row at the expense of the Colorado Avalanche and with 39 saves from their goaltender, Mike Smith. Phoenix won the last game they played against Nashville by a count of 5-2.

"We gave up a lot of shots tonight and we didn't play as well as we would have liked, but our goaltender hung in there and battled hard for us, and we found enough (offense) to win." - Dave Tippett [1]

Dave Tippett is in search of his 100th win with the Coyotes tonight. Nashville has had a ro...

Game Day: Phoenix Coyotes @ Colorado Avalanche

November 2, 2011

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In one of three games on the Wednesday night schedule, the Colorado Avalanche host the Phoenix Coyotes at 7:30 MST. Sitting just two points apart, the Avs currently hold the fifth spot in the Western Conference while the Coyotes sit in ninth. Phoenix won three of four games between the two last season, including two occasions where the opposition failed to come up with a single goal.

Tonight, Phoenix looks to take their winning streak to three games whereas Colorado will try to make it two in a row. The Avs are 7-4-0, but only got their first home win on Sunday against the Kings, as Matt Duchene scored the game winner in the early moments of the third per...