Coyotes travel to Shark tank searching for answers
By Troy Baker
The horses are at the quarter pole and many questions are on the track ahead. The Phoenix Coyotes stumbled out of the starting gate and nearly lost their jockey. They gathered the reigns, steadiest the beast, and just as the jockey got his feet back in the stirrups, another rider on the favorite came and impeded all momentum leaving doubt in all those believing in this horse.
The Coyotes are a noble gray steed who is hard working and hard charging, capable of a tremendous run down the stretch while always being the long shot. Several times the critics have claimed it was time to send him to the glue factory. San Jose and Chicago are the early morning favorites. Both with awesome looking colts who have sprinted to the lead while never truly being challenged. This is the Coyotes chance to gain some serious ground but it’s time to go to the whip for coach Dave Tippett.
The Phoenix Coyotes were embarrassed on home ice Thursday by the front running Blackhawks. The test in San Jose will either prove the Coyotes contenders or pretenders. Will Mike Smith change his hair style, will Keith Yandle get rid of the yipps, or will they actually play Pack mentality and gritty defense that led them to the Pacific Division Championship last season? They outlasted the Sharks, sent home Chicago, and proved their style can work.
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Maybe a road trip is much needed. Sometimes you can rest too easy at home with 2 days off. Road trips bring teammates together and galvanizes them moving forward. Plenty of motivation in a 6-2 drubbing. So when the puck drops we shall see which Coyotes squad will show up. The one who had a 3 – 1 lead in San Jose or the squad who gave up 4 goals in the first against Chicago and 3rd against San Jose. This team can battle with anyone but shown it can self-destruct button as well.
Saturday afternoon at 2pm we will get our answers. Marleau, Thorton, and Niemi await.