Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
450 wins as a head coach in the NHL. Now that’s a milestone. A milestone that Coach Tippet enjoyed tonight when the Phoenix Coyotes handed the New Jersey Devils a 3-2 loss. Behind a loud crowd at Jobing Arena in Glendale, AZ the Yotes played a solid and sound game of good old fashioned white knuckled hockey. Or as we like to call it here at Howlin’ “Tippy Hockey.”
This is the first time since December 10th and 12th 2013 that the Coyotes have won games back to back, officially giving them a win streak. And if there was going to be a time to start stacking wins it’d have to be now. After starting the season strong the team stalled out after some key injuries sidelined some star players; Doan and Michalek to name two. The end of the year and the first two weeks of 2014 were a rough slog with the Coyotes only winning 4 of their last 16 games and falling out of the Wild Card spot. They’re currently one game behind Vancouver.
The last two games seem to be a product of what we’ve been hearing coming from the locker room after these tough losses. Tippy always knew the guys had it in them and was constantly calling for sound, simple, hard nosed hockey. Shane Doan was heard stressing focus and taking advantage of Power Plays. After tonight and Thursday night it seems that the Coyotes have begun to “speak it into being”, to use a phrase from visualization guru and Mariah Cary punching bag, Nick Cannon.
That’s right, I just referenced Nick Cannon in a hockey article. If you don’t like that you may not want to stick around for my comparison of Mike Smith’s play tonight to Kevin Costner’s performance in The Bodyguard.
Jokes aside, Yotes fans have a lot to be howling about right now. Let’s hope that with this momentum the boys can steer clear of anymore major obstacles and take a serious stab at the post season. Until then, let’s enjoy a scoring RECAP shall we?
1st Period: This was one of the most exciting periods of hockey the Coyotes have played all year. They spent more time in New Jersey’s side of the ice than Edward Snowden has in Russian Airport food courts.
– Recently called up Szwarz gets a hand from Chipchura from behind the net. Szwarz scores his 3rd of the season. Coyotes over Devils 1-0.
– Halpern gets his stick on a loose slider and puts one past Devils Goalie Brodeur. 2-0 Coyotes.
– Smith looses sight of one. Devils Clowe catches a rebound and slips it past the happiest goalie in the NHL. 2-1 Coyotes.
2nd Period: Both teams put up strong defensive stands in the 2nd. Smith looked as stout and spry as a young Kevin Costner protecting Whitney Houston from a fanatical admirer. I warned you, didn’t I?
– Keith Yandle gets his second assist of the game after Hanzal pots it in past Brodeur. 3-1 Yotes!
3rd Period: More solid play from both teams, but the Devils find the Coyotes howl far too distracting.
– Devils Jagr aids Clowe’s shot and New Jersey makes it interesting with 2:14 left in the game. 3-2.
And that was that. Yotes win. Two in a row. Here’s looking forward to testing our mettle against the Maple Leafs on Monday. Until then, stay ornery Arizona.