IT CAME FROM OUT OF THE ICE : COYOTES (2) VS PREDATORS (3) 12/23/19
CAPSULE : The Predators are starting to play how you would expect them to with that line-up. They are now 8-3-3 in their past 14 games and have 40 points on the season. The bad news for them right now is that, 40 points is only good enough for 5th place in the Central Division. What the heck are they feeding those kids? The Predators come in with an overall record of 17-12-6 and are the 4th highest scoring team (goal per game) in the entire NHL. The Coyotes come in with the 12th best Power Play in the NHL (I know, I had to recheck the
stats too, because that doesn’t seem like a real thing). Their Penalty Kill is the 10th best in the league. Coming into this one the Coyotes also have allowed the fewest goals per game in the NHL, even after allowing 10 goals in just their past 2 games. Lets hope I don’t regret pointing that out by the time this one is over.
SODERBERG (34) – Saved a goal early in the game when the Predators were dominating just spending tons of time in the Coyotes zone. At one point the Coyotes were being out-shot 10 to 0. He also hit the post in the 3rd period on a nice set up. That would have tied the game at 2-2 at the time. Later in the 3rd he hit the post again. At the time it would have tied the game up at 3-3 had it gone in.
OESTERLE (82) – Almost scored on a bad angle shot in the 1st period after coming up into the offensive zone on a pass from Keller. I like when this guy shoots, but sometimes those types of plays can end up in an odd man rush the other way.
RICHARDSON (15) – Had a great chance very late in the 1st period but could not put it in the net. It was one of just 5 Coyotes shots the entire 1st period.
RAANTA (32) – Probably played the best 1st period of any Coyotes goalie all season. He did let one goal in, but was getting peppered like a 3 egg omelette all period. The Coyotes allowed 22 shots in the period. Raanta took a blow to the head in the 3rd that got him jacked up for a few minutes. There was no call on the play because the refs just were not bothering to call anything on the Preds tonight. In spite of allowing 3 goals, this was one of Raanta’s best games of the season.
CHYCHRUN (6) – Tossed Forsberg to the ice like a chew toy in the 2nd. I know he’s a solid guy, but he looks even stronger when he’s doing things like that. He is currently the 5th highest scoring defensemen in the NHL. He blasted a shot off a pass by Keller in the 3rd past the Preds goal tender. I am surprised it didn’t go through the net. It made the score 2-3 at the time, the Preds had the lead.
CROUSE (67) – Scored his 7th goal of the season to make the score 1-2 Nashville’s lead at the time. The shot was a back-hander bar down for a really nice goal on a partial breakaway. He had another pretty good chance on the rush in the 3rd, but that one didn’t go in.
GRABNER (40) – Had 2 times in the 2nd period where he got behind the defense with speed and almost scored on 2 shots on net. Grabner seems to be coming back into form, and if you give him to many chances like that, you are going to regret your life. Like the time you took a liberal arts class in college that cost $74,000 a year and didn’t result in a real job.
SCHMALTZ (8) - Had an assist on the Crouse goal in the 2nd period. Took a dumb penalty in the 3rd period on a puck that went down the ice to Raanta. Not really sure what was going on there. The good news was on that Power Play for the Preds, the Coyotes had the two best scoring opportunities.
KELLER (9) – Had an assist on the Chychrun goal, because Keller isn’t doing nights where he doesn’t have at least a point any more apparently.
GOLIGOSKI (33) – Had an assist on the Crouse goal in the 2nd period and another one on the Chychrun goal in the 3rd period. Overall a very very solid game for him which also featured 4 blocks.
FX - Why does their new show “A Christmas Carol” look more like a freakin horror flick than a Christmas story?
HINOSTROZA (13) – Had the most shots of all the Coyotes players tonight. No goals, but a ton of energy as usual.
DEMERS (55) – It is nice having him back, but it will likely take a few games before we see him get going.
VITAMIN C - If you get a chance pick some of that up. This time of year, it’s a pretty good plan.
OEL (23) – Not sure he could have had a better game outside of putting one in the net.
YELLOW - Man, these Predators uniforms. I don’t remember them being so yellow before. They might be the yellow-ist team in the league right now.
GROSS (79) – If you are going to get up into the offensive play, you need to also get back on D. Not a bad game for him, but he just needs to stay defensively aware.
HALL (91) - Had 2 shots and 2 hits. This was the first game he’s played with the Coyotes where he really didn’t stand out.
TYSON - Has the absolute best Christmas suit top on tonight. Pretty freakin great. In case you don’t know Tyson Nash is one of the best commentators in the league. Don’t believe me, watch a broadcast for any other team. We also have the best duo in radio, except maybe the Florida Panthers radio guy….when the Panthers score, that dude loses his mind.
STEPAN (21) – Another strong game for him. 2 shots, 1 hit and 2 blocks. I do wish he had done better in the face-off circle.
DON’T FORGET TO CLOSE THE DVORAK WHEN YOU LEAVE (18) – 2 shots and a hit, but not a bad game overall.
ELLIS - Of the Predators, looks exactly like Chris Pratt (Guardians Of The Galaxy) if he didn’t bother shaving for 6 decades.
GARLAND (83) - The team needs him to get it going on nights like tonight. I would like to see him start taking charge again like he did earlier in the season.
KESSEL (81) – Looked pretty good tonight. Had a few chances late, one he almost buried to tie up the game.
EXTERNAL ICE - The Wild did the Coyotes a favor defeating the Flames earlier today 3-0. That leaves the Flames at 19-15-5 with 43 points and Minnesota at 18-15-5 with 41 points. The Oilers also participated in the donate a loss to the Canucks for the benefit of the Coyotes program losing to Vancouver 4-2. They stay at 44 points on the season. Vegas also lost to the Avs 7-3 which also helped the Coyotes.
WRAP UP – It was a pretty gutsy effort tonight after a rough 1st period. Raanta stood on his head and deserved a better fate, but the team goes into the break (they don’t play again till Saturday December 28th) at the top of the Pacific Division with a record of 21-14-4.
#Arizona #ArizonaCoyotes #Coyotes #AZ #hockey #IceHockey #Nashville #Yotes #GoYotes #GameDay #ItCameFromOutOfTheIce #News #Keller #Hall #eatsyourveggies
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