Arizona Coyotes Last Game Of Forgetful Season

The Arizona Coyotes Last Game This Season Should Be One To Build On For Next Season

As the Anaheim Ducks close out the season tonight for the Arizona Coyotes, the Ducks have lots more to play for than the Coyotes… or do they?

The Ducks can clinch first place in the Western Conference with a regulation or overtime win tonight. BUT… the Arizona Coyotes want to go out in a positive manner, building for what should be a much better season next year. Of course, it couldn’t get much worse, when you consider they just barely beat out the lowly Buffalo Sabres for last place.

With dreams of a better season next year being the motivation factor for tonight’s effort against the best team in the Western Conference, the Arizona Coyotes have to regain some form of dignity to the team by putting themselves in the win column one last time this horrible season. It will add to the confidence of the team, the coaching staff, and the upper management to go out a winner.

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There’s also the fact that the team will be feeding Oliver Ekman-Larsson all night with passes, setups to get him his franchise record 24th goal as a defenseman.

Whether or not Shane Doan’s lower body injury will allow him to play is still up in the air at this writing, but if you follow the Arizona Coyotes you know if at all possible, he will be out there helping his teammates come home a victor. Doan has 898 NHL points in his illustrious career, and wants to get to that 900 mark, if possible.

Looking back at this past season, it was more than frustrating to see your team play so poorly, and not even come anywhere close to qualifying for the playoffs. Especially when they just missed getting to that point last season. It all fell apart this season, and I sure didn’t see it coming, except for a few indicators… well maybe more than a few…

Indicator #1:

When the Arizona Coyotes played the Vancouver Canucks 4/9/15 and I watched Radim Vrbata skate around, it reminded me that WE could have had his 31 goals, 61 points, 12 PPG, 7 GW. A statistic worth mulling over was that Vrbata was involved in half (23) of the Canucks power plays for the season. Twelve power play goals of his own, and eleven power play assists. That to me should have been worth the $10M two year contract he sought, and GM Don Maloney rejected to keep him here in a Arizona Coyotes uniform.

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Indicator #2:

Mike Smith would have the worst season of his nine year career with numbers that would make a fan weep.. 14-41-5, .903 SV%, 3.18 GAA. Just when we all thought he was turning it around the last couple months (yes, his numbers were worse earlier in the year) he went out and got shelled again by the Canucks giving up four goals, before being relieved by backup Louis Domingue.

I’ve tried to ascertain all season what the heck is wrong with Mike Smith, and have drawn blanks. He MUST improve next season, or the team may choose to eat his contract and move forward.

Indicator #3:

Who could have predicted that this Arizona Coyotes team, coached by a strict defensive mined Head Coach like Dave Tippett, could have failed so miserably in the defense department? I sure missed that e-mail. Granted, the defense was young (if you’re looking for an excuse), and then when they decided to go another direction they traded Keith Yandle, and Zbyneck Michalek. The only thing coming out of the trades was some good young projects who should help the team score more, and then the defense may not look as bad.

Indicator #4:

INJURIES… Mikkel Boedker missing 37 games after scoring 14 goals in 45 games certainly hurt the team’s weak offense. Along with Martin Hanzel missing 45 games, which we eventually discovered was due to him needing back surgery. I was quite critical of Hanzal missing so many games due to injury, but then when I found out what was causing it, I felt like I criticized him unjustly.

He is a BIG man, and the Arizona Coyotes need him to shut down the opposition’s top line forwards, and stand in front of the opposing goalie so he can’t see those shots from the blue-line whistling by him. He obviously is still on the team, got through the “retool”, and when next season comes, I see good things for Hanzal.

Indicator #5:

TURNOVERS, TOO MANY PENALTIES, POOR PUCK POSSESSION — LEADING TO BEING OUTSHOT

The Arizona Coyotes have given up an average of 33 shots a game. No wonder Mike Smith feels shell-shocked. You can’t give the other team that many shots and expect to win games. They also were not very adept on the penalty kill coming in at 76.45%, while the NHL average is 81.31%. Too many penalties lead to too many power plays for the other teams, leading to losses.

Their power play was better, showing a 20.26 % success rate, while the NHL average was 18.69%. With the potential of a Max Domi, Anthony “Tony D” Duclair playing on the power play unit, those numbers should increase.

All in all, it was a season to forget, but I as an optimist must look forward to next season with ever pressing desire to see a more competitive team play some much better hockey. It’s no fun to watch your team lose, and they can’t win every game, but next year I see this team making the playoffs. That’s right, I’m putting myself out there on this one.

And check this out to stay focused and positive for NEXT season: Five young prospects to watch

Next: Arizona Coyotes Last Three Games This Season

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