IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (3) VS BLUES (1) 12/31/19

IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (3) VS BLUES (1)  12/31/19

[ Flash Gordon Edition : Some of the crazy stuff is me, but a lot of it is quotes or partial quotes from the 1980 movie. ]

CAPSULE : Klytus, I'm bored. What plaything can you offer me today?
An obscure body in the SK system. The inhabitants call it Earth, it’s greatest sport is hockey.

The St. Louis Blues and they are coming to town with a 26-8-6 record. The Blue currently sit in 1^st place in the Central Division with 58 points. That’s good enough for 2^nd best in the entire NHL.  The Coyotes come into tonight reeling a bit after 3 straight regulation loses. Their longest losing streak of the season. They come into tonight 3^rd in the Pacific Division with a record of 21-16-4, but they could sink below a Wild Card spot if they lose and both the Jets and Flames win. That is how crazy this race is right now.

HINOSTROZA (13) – Every moon of Mongo is a kingdom. My coach keeps them fighting. It's a really brilliant strategy. Vinnie is probably pissed he was held out of the last game, it just goes to show Tocchet not afraid to pull anyone and the competition for ice time is real.

GARLAND (83)  –  Hurling pucks into the void.  Without an inkling of who or what is out here. If you knew anything about the universe you’d hide from it.  For the 2^nd game in a row,  Garland put a puck in the net and scored. That dude just does not care, he will shoot a puck from outer space. The goal was his 14^th of the season and put the Coyotes up 1-0 at the time.

LYUBUSHKIN (46) –  You fools. He's playing some barbaric game. Match him, like this. I like his play most nights, but that first goal was probably all on him. That Blues goal tied the game up at 1-1 at the time.

HALL (91) -  I thought it might amuse you to know this, before your mind is gone. Hall hit the crossbar in the 1^st period on the Coyotes second Power Play. I forgot to mention, the first goal of the game for Garland was on the Power Play, so it’s been really good tonight. Unfortunately during a 4 minute minor for the Coyotes they couldn’t put the puck in the net.

STEPAN (21) – But don't fill him with anything above level three. His mind can't take it. I am shocked he is in this game after that head hit he took in the Dallas game on Sunday.

CHYCHRUN (6) –  - That could be our good luck. It means we'll find allies everywhere. They're just waiting for someone to lead them in a goal. Chychrun had an assist on the Garland goal in the 1^st period and another assist on the Kessel goal in the 3^rd period.

OEL (23) –  Keeping our word is one of the things that make us better hockey players than you. OEL took a dumb penalty in the 2^nd period that gave the Blues a long 5 on 3. That penalty did not result in the Blues scoring. Shockingly the Blues are 0 for 5 when on a 5 on 3 advantage this season.

DVORAK (18) – You know Ming's law. Outside his own arena, the hunter becomes the hunted. Dvorak lead the team in shots with 4 after the 1^st period. In the 2^nd he almost had a tip in off an OEL shot. He ended the game leading the entire team with 7 shots and also logged the most ice time.

DEMERS (55) – Yes, and Ming knows it, too. By delivering you, I allay his suspicions. I gain ice time. Demers had a pretty good opportunity in the 2^nd period on a nice pass from Hall, but couldn’t quite bury it. Demers did look like he was skating quite a bit better than he has been the past few games.

GOLIGOSKI (33) – Had an assist on the Garland goal in the 1^st period. That period also featured both good and bad moments for him. The 2^nd period was very good.

KESSEL (81) –  There is something finer in this galaxy than Coyotes hockey. Rubbish! When Kessel is getting mentioned for great defensive plays, and then scores a goal in the 3^rd period, that’s a great night for him. Gotta love it. His goal put the Coyotes up 2-1 at the time.

TACO BELL - Has resorted to gliding taco ladies. Let’s see how this plays out.

SCHMALTZ (8) - Scored the ugliest empty net goal I have seen all year. It made the score 3 to 1 at the time.  Agent Pietrangelo*, you will be liquidated for treachery.

SODERBERG (34) – Surrender the fugitives at once. Or the Imperial Fleet will blast your elite defensemen to atoms. Soderberg registered an assist on the Schmaltz empty netter in the 3^rd.

RICHARDSON (15) –  There is no cause for alarm. The pucks are not being fired in continuous salute. Easy to overlook this but Richardson was 75% in the face-off circle tonight. Not much on the board to show for his effort, but overall this was a decent game out of him.

RAANTA (32) –  Is there such an article? What a damned nuisance. Raanta got called for a strange penalty in the 2^nd period after barely touching a Blue player in front of him. Raanta stood on his freakin head tonight. Fantastic game and a really nice bounce back for him.

CROUSE (67) – What do you mean, 'Lawson Crouse approaching'? Crouse had an assist on the Kessel goal which turned out to be the game winner.

CROSSBAR - If hitting cross bars counted as goals, the Coyotes would have finished the night with 6 goals.

KELLER (9) – You guys know I love Keller, but just one shot on goal tonight. I hope he gets his game back here soon, he’s been a little less aggressive lately. Fortunately for him, A body reaches maximum velocity within a few hundred feet of the net. He’ll get his game back.

FISCHER (36) – 3 hits, but not much on offense for him tonight. He is going to have to be more active shot wise if he wants to stay in the rotation. It was one of those flying blind on a rocket cycle games for him.

EXTERNAL ICE - Vegas now holds the 1^st overall spot in the Pacific Division after beating the Ducks today 5-2. The Avs have started mailing it in lately and gave up 7 goals to the Jets. It’s like they just went down to “rent-a-goalie” tonight and threw some kid in net. Needless to say now the Jets have 47 points. Just keep an eye on them, they are pesky. Edmonton defeated the Rangers 7 to 5, so they have 46 points now. They did almost blow the game by giving up 4 goals in the 3^rd period, but were able to squeak by.

WRAP UP - The Coyotes move up into 2^nd place in the Pacific just 2pts behind the Golden Knights with a game in hand. If the Coyotes play as well as they did tonight for awhile, they can start to get back into a great position in the West. Happy New Year everyone!!! What a great night for the Coyotes.

*Pietrangelo was the guy Schmaltz beat to put the puck in the net.

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