Third loss to Red Wings means last chance for Coyotes

Goals have been coming in sets of four for the Red Wings but the Coyotes had better hope their opponent’s wins stop at three. They took a third loss to the Red Wings on Monday with a score of 4-2.

With the series lead by Detroit 3-0, the Coyotes must continue to do exactly what they have been doing since the first game of the playoffs, play catch up. They are running out of time and cushion though. If they do not beat the Red Wings next Wednesday, April 20, they will be out of the running for the Stanley Cup.

But if there is one thing that can be said about the Phoenix Coyotes, it’s that they fight until the last minute. Phoenix has scored at least once in the third period of all three playoff games and nearly managed to tie Saturday’s game.

Even with the Red Wings scoring with in the first scoring in less than three minutes at the start of each period, the Coyotes kept pushing through their third game.

At 1:57 into Monday’s game, the Red Wings were already ahead by one with a goal from Ruslan Salei. At 2:41 they were ahead by two with a goal from Drew Miller. They came out quick again in the second period and Valtteri Filppula scored a third goal at 2:50.

Defensemen David Schlemko managed to put one in for the Coyotes in the second period as well but at the start of the third period the Red Wings hardly took any time at all for their fourth and final goal, with Johan Frazen scoring only 0:45 in.

Ray Whitney scored a second goal for the Coyotes during the third period push but they were not able to get anything else in. Both Coyotes goals were on power plays.

Phoenix must win four in a row to make it to the next round of playoffs, any loss and they are out. Wednesday’s game will be in Phoenix at 7:30 p.m. local time.