IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (4) VS CAPITALS (3) OT 11/11/19

IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (4) VS CAPITALS (3) OT 11/11/19

CAPSULE : The Coyotes come into this one with an OT loss and 2 regulation loses. The Capitals come into this game with 6 straight wins and just 2 regulation loses this year. They have simply forgotten how to lose since last year’s playoffs when the Canes took them out in a 7 game series. Wait...I wasn't supposed to bring that up? One bit of good news for the Coyotes, Panik is back in the and it will be RICHARDSON's second game back. It's a tall order for the Coyotes tonight with 3 games in 4 days. 2 of those are against the last 2 Stanley Cup winners.

GRABNER (40) - Has had points in each of his last 4 games.  He also should have passed on a shorty try in the 1^st period, but made up for it not passing in the 2^nd period with the Coyotes 3^rd goal of the game. They opened the period with 2 goals in 35 seconds.  It sure sucks being the most boring team in the NHL.

DVORAK (18) – Had a really nice chance in OT to win it, but couldn’t get the backhand shot off.

SCHMALTZ (8) – Not a great night for him. He was his usual self when it came to settling things down in the offensive zone, but wasn’t getting much time or space and wasn’t as “on the puck” as usual.

KESSEL (81) – Had a huge breakaway in the 2^nd and couldn’t put it in the net. It seemed like the Coyotes had about 10 breakaways in the first 2 periods. He had a LOT of passes tonight that ended up getting stolen or deflected by Caps players.

NBCSN – Figured out a way to blame the 3-1 lead by the Coyotes on the Capitals and their turnovers. Apparently it had nothing to do with the Coyotes playing a great 1^st 2 periods of the game.

KELLER INSTINCT (9) – Buried a goal off a deflected pass from Hinostroza in the 1^st. He seems to be heating up just bit. He had a great breakaway in the 2^nd, but ended up not getting a shot on net as the Washington goalie was able to get in position in time.

STEPAN (21) – Missed a puck right in front of the net in the 3r d with just under 10 minutes to go. It would have given the Coyotes a 4-2 lead if he’d have put that one in.

HINOSTOZA (13) – 4 shots on goal and an assist tonight. I love his effort tonight, just all over the ice in the best ways possible.

HULU – Wants to not be my provider and fast. I lost the live feed several times in the 2^nd. Once for around 5 minutes. What the heck. No, it wasn’t my internet HULU…it was you.

M.I.C...K.E.Y...CROUSE (67) – Definitely committed a penalty late in the 2^nd period, but the refs over-looked it. I guess once in a while you get some breaks. Somehow he was the only forward in the entire game to not manage a shot on net.

SODERBERG (34) – Had 3 shots on goal and 2 hits. I don’t want to say it was a good night for him. I am going to say it was just average.

GARLAND (83) – He’s pretty epic. This dude kept the puck away from 3 Capitals players late in the game all by himself. Can’t argue his effort. He beat the Caps goalie in the Shoot-Out for the game winner. This dude… man, holy cow he’s just really freakin good. Okay – I am going to shut up now. He did only have 1 shot on net during regulation making this the second game in a row where he wasn’t getting his usual looks.

RICHARDSON (15) – Had an assist on the Coyotes second goal of the game, after a really good drive right off the opening faceoff of the 2^nd period.

WHAT? – The Knights are 7-0 all-time against the Blackhawks. That kinda caught me off guard. I guess they play again Wednesday night. Don’t worry, I am not going to make you suffer through a write up for those two teams.

FISCHER (36) – Scored a goal off of Richardson’s drive to the net just 12 seconds into the 2^nd period. The crazy part about this play was that we never got a view on the replay that it crossed the line till about 5 minutes after the decision was made, so in my head, I was like....really? They are giving us this goal? It did clearly cross the line though. 

HONEYWELL – Is trying to make jet fuel from mustard seeds? It would be awesome to see that work out.

OEL (23) – Was not joking around. He lead the team in shots with 5 after 2 periods. 2 more shots than anyone else on the team at the time. Unfortunately with just over a minute left in the game, he was out of position and the Capitals tied the game at 3-3 after pulling their goalie.

SMART DOGS – Are not the answer.

DEMERS (55) – Had a penalty called on him in the 2^nd period that was likely a make up call, because Oshie went down like a sack of potatoes after barely getting touched.

CHYCHRUN (6) – Had a close in chance to win it in the 3 on 3 OT, but couldn’t put the puck in the net. He had a really solid game though. His 4 blocks lead the team and also lead the team in ice time.

GOLIGOSKI (33) – Another extremely solid night, 5 hits, 2 shots and 3 blocks. For at least the first 40 minutes of this game, he was likely giving the Caps nightmares.

NESS (42) – Solid on D all night. Pretty quiet, but we will take it. I would like to see more blocks and hits out of him.

OESTERLE (82) – I am a big fan of his one-timer, but it seems like lately teams have known it’s coming. The dudes got a great shot.

RAANTA (32) – Not sure why the announcers kept calling him ANTY AANTA. Pretty sure that “R” is there for a reason in this case. Pretty much every goal scored on him tonight was un-stoppable. However when it came to OT, he was unstoppable.

WRAP UP – This game proved how much the Coyotes coaching staff was on the ball. They made sure the second goal got a long review and it ended up counting. Then in OT, they made sure the off-sides was pointed out. These are some key things where having your head in the game really matters. The Coyotes needed this win to stop the bleeding. Now at 10-6-2 and sit in the top 3 in the Pacific Division. That is pretty much what we want.