Anaheim Was Ready; Phoenix, Not So Much

God, it was a beating up and down the ice. Not a Detroit beatiing. But a beating by getting outworked by lesser skilled players. Riding a huge saving goalie and keeping the top line neutralized for most of the game, Anaheim saddled Hagman and rode him for two goals and the win.
I had Phoenx five keys to the game. Usually it is three, I was feeling generous. Stay out of penalty box (2 in 1st period), score early (waiting until the 2nd period), get Vrbata the puck and allow him to shoot early and often, no defensive zone turnovers (more than at Mimi’s Cafe) and lastly, play sixty minutes of hockey.
This they did. They played sixty minutes of hockey, just not Coyote hockey. They were trapped into playing Duck hockey.

Anaheim took control early and kept their foot on the accelerator. All to the way of the floor of the Aston Martin. It was a perfect game for them. Their top line got some (assist by Perry), their new player (Pelley), Hagman scored by PP and even strength. Vivnovsky gets 7 shots on goal. Vrbata gets 0. Morris and Schlemko get caught watching the puck as Hagman scores. Shots from the point not getting through.

Phoenix loses three in a row for the first time in a long time. After being 3rd in the West before the Detroit game, three straight loses puts them looking up at a playoff spot. The West is too tight to have back to back loses. Three in a row is unacceptable.

What needs to happen. Two things, your choice. 1) Players get it together and put a beating on Edmonton Thursday at the Job.2) Time to shake the team up with a good old fashioned trade. As bait, Turris, Torres, Boedker, Pyatt. I don’t want to lose the last two, but you have to give something to get. Torres doesn’t fit in with the team, his style of play is not what is desired, he makes blind passes like he was paid for them, and he brings nothing we don’t already have. Turris signed his ticket with the holdout and statements about not wanting to play for Tippett. Boedker and Pyatt are solid role players. We have those, we need a star. A player on IR right now who has potential realized but his injury is keeping off the ice. Ladies, Gentlemen, I offer you Matthew Lombardi.

A Turris for Lombardi trade. Straight up.