Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Game Recap
With only two games remaining, the Arizona Coyotes began their final trip to the Shark Tank in Southern California to face off against their divisional rivals, the San Jose Sharks. This match-up is the first of two games played in San Jose this weekend to finish off the Covid-19 shortened NHL season.
First Period:
The pace of play was less than stellar on both ends of the ice for both teams in the opening minutes of tonight’s match-up, with both teams testing AHL call-ups in their first NHL games. The Sharks and Coyotes’ new call-ups took a little time to adjust to the change of pace that the NHL provides. And many moments left viewers wondering if the men on the ice had replaced the steel of their skate blades with sticks of butter following a multitude of individuals falling on open ice unimpeded.
Game Recap
Well, at least the Arizona Coyotes don’t have to play the Colorado Avalanche again for the rest of the regular season.
It wasn’t the worst game they’ve played, and the Coyotes played better than they did in either game against the Vegas Golden Knights. But it wasn’t good enough, and Colorado walked away with the 4-2 win.
Arizona started well enough, and they were getting some decent offensive zone time. The Coyotes were driving hard to the net, but Philipp Grubauer was playing at the top of his game.
It looked like the Coyotes would get lucky early on in a weird delay. The Coyotes had crashed the net, and while it didn’t look like the puck crossed the net. Even on replay, it didn’t look like anything, but the referees have access to more angles and must have seen something because they gave the Coyotes goal.
Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The NHL Trade Deadline is today at noon Arizona time. And even if you have watched every Arizona Coyotes’ game this season, which I have, you probably still don’t know what the Coyotes will be doing today.
Despite playing in one more game, the Coyotes are currently one point back of the St. Louis Blues for the final playoff spot. They are still deep in the hunt for a playoff spot.
We were supposed to have some clarity as this road trip wrapped up, but it may have only made things murkier. The Coyotes won three straight, getting the points that they needed to.
Game Recap
That one stings.
Now that the Arizona Coyotes are in that fourth and final West Division playoff spot, every game is an opportunity to strengthen the post-season chances. In the case of Wednesday’s game against the Kings, it was also an opportunity to deal a crucial blow to one of the teams behind them, chasing that spot.
This gives this one a “blown-opportunity” kind of taste, especially in a game they led by two goals entering the third period.
Many components present during the three-game winning streak entering play were there - until they weren’t. Specifically, the first two periods saw strong stretches of play from most of Arizona’s defensemen. Veteran savvy showed itself at several key moments. They even got a goal from one of their defensive defensemen!