WHAT I SAW : COYOTES (2) VS OILERS (3) OT 3/16/19

WHAT I SAW : COYOTES (2) VS OILERS (3)  OT 3/16/19

This game was more about perspective than anything for the Coyotes. The Coyotes will start tonight's game 4pts behind St. Louis (they have 81 pts now) but the current 1st Wild Card spot is actually Dallas who is idle tonight. Having said all that, this game just solidifies how the top tier teams in the East are just average right now. How do we know that? Well the Blues just lost to the worst team in the league (and in the east) on Thursday then beat one of the best teams in the East today by 4 goals. Bloody hell Pens....couldn't you have just showed up for this one? Meanwhile, the CANES are licking their chops as them and the Pens are battling it out for Wild Card/ Playoff positioning and spots. 

OVERHEARD – “The Canadiens Power Play, has not be any good” – Chicago Play By Play guy.  WGN Sports has the worst graphics in the league. I feel like I am watching the Olympics back in 1980. No shot display, no logos, no color, nothing. I’m just asking for a little bit of tech over here. Needless to say, the Canadiens are not a team to count on for anything. The Blackhawks are now at 73 pts. 

This kind of completes the trifecta of things we didn't want to happen tonight that didn't have to do with the Coyotes actual game. The Rangers just aren't good already so playing on a back to back, they really didn't stand a chance in this one if the WILD even partly showed up. The WILD are now at 76 pts. 
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PP – Started the 1^st period rough, allowing a short-handed goal by Edmonton’s McDavid. We did get a goal on the PP, but 1 of 5 on any night is not good by any means.

KELLER (9) – Watched the Oilers 2^nd goal go right in the net. Not sure what was going on there.  He did drive the car on that 2^nd goal by the Coyotes prior to the drive to the net from COUSINS. I think Keller could have picked up an assist on that one but didn’t.

HINOSTROZA (13) – Lead forwards in shots after the 1^st period with 2, but ended the game with just 4.

PANIK (14) – Got a penalty called on him in the 3^rd after his stick got stuck between an Oilers players legs. Not sure exactly why it was called? I have been watching that happen all day in other games and nothings been called.

RICHARDSON (15) – Ended up logging more minutes than anyone due to the OT. The Coyotes OT was rough, they didn't even get a line change. 

GALCHENYUK (17) – Put a brutal shot passed the Oilers tender late in the first. This shot has been sighted somewhere over Palo Verde and is still going. He then scored his second goal of the night 12 seconds after the Coyotes allowed the Oilers 2^nd goal.

TYSON – Says he doesn’t have a forehead but a sevenhead….lol

DVORAK (18) – Outside of getting a minor penalty, it was a pretty un-eventful night for him.

COUSINS (25) – Basically caused the 2^nd goal just from rushing the net which allowed GALCHENYUK to put it in the net.

KEMPE (29) – Low ice time tonight, not much production, he also looked slightly overmatched size wise.

JODY JACKSON – Someone go get her a Coyotes kids cape. Unless she’s kidding. Someone ask if she’s kidding.

GRABNER (40) – Had a very solid defensive night tonight. Not just on the PK.

ARCHIBALD (45) – Not his best game.

CROUSE (67) – Led the team in hits on the night with 5.

ALICE COOPER – Just got off a tour to 198 cities…are you freakin kidding me. Wow. Great to see him at the game.

GARLAND (83) – I am not sure why Tocc (the Coyotes coach) had GARLAND a healthy scratch for so long, but it took him just over a period to register his first point with an assist.

HJALMARSSON (4) – It’s not uncommon for him to lead the team in blocks. He did again tonight. Like he’s literally “Block Watch”.

DON'T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUNS – For some reason FOX AZ thought it was more important to not show the first 8 minutes or so of this game and instead show the after game show for the SUNS…who stink. Normally if their season was going well, I would understand. 

CHYCHRUN (6) – Actually led the team in shots after 2 periods. Not just the defensemen. The entire team. The force was with him tonight.

OEL (23) – Didn’t have a great Overtime, but during the game he did fine with a few good shots on net.

OESTERLE (82) – Shot one that hit to pipe late in the second. It was on a powerplay and would have put us up 3-2 at the time. Still, I have said this before, I like it when he takes chances. OESTERLE did take at least 1 shot on KUEMPER ….fortunately it didn’t go in.

KUEMPER (35) – Played his guts out tonight. Pretty much every goal the Oilers scored were going past a brick wall in front of the net. Having said that, if this late season push has told us anything, then we can expect him to come out even more ready to go next game. 

WRAP UP - It would be nice if Minnesota could lose tomorrow. The Coyotes need to be ready for a BIG game on Monday against Tampa.  The Coyotes did pick up a point tonight, but right now you need to get everything you can especially verses teams that are not as good and when all of the teams in the race with you picked up wins. I also can't stand the damn Katchina uniforms in case I haven't said that. The bright side of these nightmare uniforms they wear on Saturday's is that they are 7-4-1 in them. A better record at home than they have at home..not wearing them 11-9-3. Don't get on my case about the fact that I hate them though...I own 4 from before the team changed to the best logo in the league with the Coyote howling. I did like some of the comments after the game. No one was too rocked by not getting the extra point. Right now freaking out doesn't help. Playing focused does. The Coyotes currently have 78 pts.