IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (0) VS ISLANDERS (2) 3/24/19

IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (0) VS ISLANDERS (2)  3/24/19

KELLER (9) – Only 1 shot on the entire game. Not good enough.

HINOSTROZA (13) – Got smashed against the boards in the 1^st. It will take a few weeks to get him peeled off of it. In the 3^rd he had one of his patented moves to the net on a drive, but couldn’t score. As you are reading this you will see that theme throughout. He ended up tied for the most shots on net in the game with 5.

PANIK (14) – Had a nice try at a jam in from behind the net on a wrap-around but couldn’t get it past Lehner (the Islanders goalie). After 2 periods PANIK lead the team in shots with 4.

RICHARDSON (15) – Had 5 shots. Unfortunately none of them went into the net.

JOE KLEIN – Should not still be on the Majerle’s menu. That’s cannibalism.

GALCHENYUK (17) – Not enough when it came to production. Just 1 shot on net like KELLER.

DVORAK (18) – Got knocked on his backside in the 1^st. The guys overall were getting knocked around like crazy in the 1^st.

30-4-1 – The Coyotes record when scoring at least 3 goals. Why is why it’s a 

HUGE issue when they don’t.

STEPAN (21) – This one kind of makes you wonder if starting him yesterday instead of today wasn’t the best idea. It’s hard coming back off an injury as it is, but looking back, maybe a back to back wasn’t the best choice.

PP – Well I guess it’s impossible to complain about or compliment the Power Play if you don’t get one. Through 2 periods, neither team got a Power Play. Actually never mind, we got one in the 3^rd and it was a disaster.

KEMPE (29) – After 2 periods has nothing to show for his game. I like KEMPE but did Tocc really replace GARLAND with KEMPE today? He did lay a huge hit on Ladd in the 3^rd, who will likely be questioned after the game as to who he is, and if he remembers his favorite color.

FISCHER (36) – Crickets.

GRABNER (40)- Had yet another short-handed breakaway in the 3^rd, but couldn’t get it past the Islanders tender. He also had a shot on the rebound but couldn’t put it in the net.

ARCHIBALD (45) – 2 shots on net in this one.

LEDDY – Every time Matt called his name today I thought of “Laddie” the little vampire kid in THE LOST BOYS.

CROUSE (67) – Had a nice move in the first that led to a good chance on net that got blocked away by the Islanders tender. In the 2^nd he had another shot on a good move that just went off an Islanders players skate. On the play, 

CROUSE was “kneed” but no call was made.

HJALMARSSON (4) – Was doing some really good defending in the 2^nd almost single handedly ending a couple of cycles by the Islanders.

OEL (23) – Had a valiant effort trying to keep the 2^nd Islanders goal from going in, but it did cross the line putting the Coyotes down 2-0. He also led the team in hits with 6.

GOLIGOSKI (33) – Nice hip-check in the 3^rd, but I think you are trying to stay on your feet when you do that.

LYUBUSHKIN (46) – Destroyed an islanders player late in the 2^nd. I am surprised the guy even got back up after that. Overall aside from maybe the last 90 seconds of the 2^nd, the Coyotes pretty much owned the Islanders all period.

THAT LIGHTER – Harnessing the power of lightning in the palm of my hand sounds dangerous as heck. Where can I get one?

DEMERS (55) – Held off Bailey in the 2^nd without a stick after breaking his on an offensive shot attempt in the Islanders defensive zone. At the time Bailey was headed down the ice for an open shot and DEMERS just really made the right choice. He ended up leading the team in blocks with 3.

OESTERLE (82) – Saved a goal very early in the 1^st. KUEMPER was out of position and the Islanders had a wide open net until OESTERLE got in the way.

KUEMPER (35) – Yet another fantastic game squandered by lack of goal support. He proved back to backs are no problem for him today.

WRAP UP – It sucks but the Coyotes will need some help down the stretch to stay in playoff contention. They have 6 games left and while they are not as desperate as the Wild, they had a real shot at getting their Wild Card spot back at least for a couple of hours.  The fact is this team is a LOT better than they have showed for the past 5 games. I guess it’s unfair to say this was a “must win” game. It’s likely to come down to the last week of play. However the Coyotes do have 3 big games coming up and it’s time to start putting the puck in the net again. Now the Coyotes head home and have a day to think about their lives. They are now at 79 pts just 2 points out of a Wild Card spot.

At first glance this game really didn't go the Coyotes way, but it also did. The Avs picked up 3 pts this weekend. The Coyotes picked up 1. So that is your difference in the race right now. 2 pts. Needless to say the Coyotes game Tuesday is huge, but probably even bigger are the two games after that. A loss for the Blackhawks Tuesday probably would mean they are all but done.

TRAGIC NUMBER - This weekend we can add both the Rangers and Sabres to the officially eliminated from playoff contention list.

I think this might be it for the Canucks. It's the first time in a long time where I have seen that many fans leaving during a Canucks game.