Doan’s Return Not Enough

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The 2nd period of this game. Wow. You really couldn’t find more exciting hockey if you tried. Unfortunately the 3 goals scored by the Yotes just weren’t enough. Your Phoenix Coyotes split the season series with the Philadelphia Flyers 1-1 with a 5-3 loss at home. This puts them at 20-11-9 for the season thus far.

It has to be said. Having Doan on the ice, for as much moral as it boosted, created issues with chemistry. Especially in the first period. While the boys moved fast they just clearly were not a cohesive unit, unable to capitalize on power plays and giving up too much ground to the Flyers. However, both goalies performed admirably.

Then in the 2nd the first goal was scored off a behind the net pass from Vermette to Klinkhammer who easily put it in. Then Korposki made it 2-0 with a backhander that slipped right by Mason. But just as soon as it looked like the Yotes were going to start to pull away the Flyers came back with a  goal of their own. The next goal came off a Yandle pass to Boedker making it 3-1 with just under 12 minutes left. Then at 11:08 Bisonnette and Rosehill played like Balboa and Creed and brought the crowd to their feet. Everybody loves a good fight and this was a doozy.

After the fight things changed, however. Not sure what it was. The fight itself seemed to go on for much longer than seemed necessary. I loved it at the time but in retrospect I wonder if it may have been the moment the ice turned in Philadelphia’s favor. The Yotes went scoreless for the rest of the game.

Doan played for 18:36 with 1 hit and 1 block. Rookie Connor Murphy had his first multi-point night with 2 assists on 2 of the 3 Coyote points. Mikkel Boedker played 17:09 with 4 hits, 1 assist and 1 goal. All in all not a terrible showing for a team trying to find some midseason magic. Something tells me they’ll bounce back soon.

Until next time, stay ornery Arizona.