MVN - Most Valuable Network

Game 51: Coyotes at Red Wings

Game 51

Phoenix Coyotes (27-21-2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (37-10-4)
5:30 pm Joe Louis Arena - Detroit, MI
Local TV: Fox Sports Arizona      Local Radio: 1060 am

The Phoenix Coyotes will ride a three game winning streak into Detroit tonight and try to upset the NHL’s top team.  The Coyotes have several factors weighing against them in tonight’s game, chief among them is the return of Red Wings leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg.  Zetterberg was suffering from a sore back that caused him to miss two games and the All-Star Game last weekend but after a couple of practice skates the Detroit Winger says he is good to go Wednesday night.  Zetterberg certainly did not want to miss a shot at the Coyotes who he has personally drubbed over the past six games with 8 goals and 8 assists.  The Wings are 3-0-0 so far this season against Phoenix and currently own a 7-game winning streak against the Coyotes while outscoring them 34-12.  Truly it has been a mismatch thus far with the Coyotes looking slow, sloppy and over-matched.

But in their last two meetings the Coyotes have hung tough with Detroit.  On December 29th in Glendale the Coyotes and Wings were tied until 15:54 of the third period.  Back on December 1st the Coyotes held a lead going into the third period but could not hold on and ended-up falling 3-2.  So what exactly do the Coyotes need to do to finally break-through against the keepers of the Octopi?

Keys for the Coyotes

• Take advantage of power-plays.  Phoenix is 0-for-13 in power-play opportunities against the Red Wings this season  and they need to score with a man-advantage or the Wings will run rough-shod over them with impunity.
•  Play physical hockey.  With Carcillo back it is imperative that the Coyotes send a message early to Detroit that this is going to be a scrappy hockey game and they will have to earn a victory.  Win-lose-or-draw the Red Wings need to remember that Phoenix was in town.  In both close games this season Detroit coach Mike Babcock criticized his team for poor play while failing to acknowledge that Phoenix was an improving club.  The Coyotes need to let Babcock and his team know that this is not your same old Coyotes team anymore.
• Turn the tables.  Detroit has been struggling with their own power-play (though the return of  Zetterberg will help this) and the Coyotes need to take advantage of whatever mental edge this might give them. When on the PK Phoenix needs to keep the Wings quality shot opportunities to a minimum while trying to create short-handed opportunities for their own snipers.  The Coyotes have made huge strides in avoiding stupid penalties this season and will need to continue that type of intelligent play against a great team like Detroit.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 at 11:06 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.