It Was Only 1 Loss, And The Phoenix Coyotes Still Have A Game On Tuesday

It has been 24 hours since the Phoenix Coyotes lost to the LA Kings by a score of 4-2. Taking into account how bad the Coyotes played the first period, we should be pretty excited about how the team hung around in the game and had a chance to win. Consider this:

• In the first period the Coyotes were flat and making back puck choices. Coach Tippett talked in his press conference how the players didn’t take care of the puck and it ended up on the LA Kings sticks for 25-30 shots toward the goalie.
• Derek Morris tied the game as he was trying to slap the puck toward Quick and make him steer the puck to the corner, allowing the Coyotes to gain the puck and start the cycle.Instead, they scored.
• Dustin Brown was hammering everything like a frat brother at his first mixer. He needs to be hit and hit often. If Dustin Brown is on the ice, he needs to be treated like Dustin Diamond. Show no mercy.
• Mike Smith made some fantastic saves again and kept the team in the game until an offensive zone lapse by Gilbert Brule led to Brown gaining open ice and ripping it past Smith. It was the only clean shot that has beat him in the past month.
• It takes 4 wins to move to the next round. We need to win 4 of the next six games. We’ve shown it can be done several times this season.

What needs to happen to gain control of this series. In my eyes, here is what I would coach up:

• The defense must tighten up and play looser. Oxymoron I now, but hear me out. Tighten up on the blind passes and dumping off their problems due to the relentless forecheck. If 2 Kings are bearing down on you, there has to be an open man. Whether it is off the boards or up ice, you will have an opening. The thing is what happened. Shane Doan calls it passing off your problem. Not being willing to take the body check to make the proper play. You are in the Western Conference Finals. You take the check to make the play. Ice bags are free and plentiful.
• All shots go to the net.
• Power plays must result in getting the  puck into the offensive zone. Carrying it in and heading to the face off dot drags 2 players with you. This opens up the point and allows them to see the play and make the first pass.
• the Kings like to curl with the puck if the direct lane to the goalie is not open. There is nothing to make your team and building come alive like a good body check. As Kopital curls toward the center, he should be met with a shoulder of Klesla or Rozsival.
• The game be won or lost in the neutral zone. We chose to win.