Arizona Coyotes Playoff Memories: 2011-2012 vs Blackhawks

The Arizona Coyotes Playoff Games For The 2011-2012 Season Were Magical

I’m sure if you consider yourself a die-hard Arizona Coyotes fan, you will remember this season. I mean it has been the ONLY time the team has gotten that far into the playoffs since their inception here in Arizona in 1995.

The then Phoenix Coyotes drew the third seed due their first place finish in the Pacific Division. Their 97 points were less than Chicago’s 101, but when you win your division you get moved up the playoff ladder.

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For me this was a match-up made in my dreams. Go figure.. I grew up in Chicago, watching many a Blackhawk game on TV and in person at the now demolished Chicago Stadium. The old building had charm, and allowed smoking in those days. Being that it resided in a not so great neighborhood, when you parked your car on the street nearby, you had to ‘hire’ someone to “watch” your vehicle.

The games I attended in person were awesome, well… except for the fact that because of all the cigarette smoking I had trouble seeing the ice from the only affordable viewing point in standing room only at the very top of the upper deck. The thing I remember most about the stadium was the organ. That really made the game entertaining and special. And, this wasn’t some electronic device cloning a real organ, it was THE REAL THING.

Imagine my thrill being able to see MY Coyotes AND MY Blackhawks!

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Don’t get me wrong, I was a Coyotes fan. I always criticize the bandwagon fans (how do you spell Red Wing fans?) who live here and show up with the intention of cheering for the other team. I still follow the Blackhawks, but my primary allegiance is with my hometown team, as well it should be.

I had just started dating a woman (she is now my wife) in December of 2011. She had never attended a Coyotes hockey game, so I took her to 5-6 regular season games, which by chance the Coyotes had won every one of them. Thus, she became spoiled seeing them do nothing but win. When we attended the Blackhawks playoff games she was stunned that the three games we attended were all overtime thrillers, and the whiteout absolutely blew her away.

Game One: Coyotes 3 Blackhawks 2 O/T

Mike Smith came up big stopping 43 of 45 shots and finished with a .956 SV%. Don’t we all wish he was doing that this past season… different times indeed. The Coyotes marketing slogan during the ’11-’12 season was “Hockey the Hard Way”, and they were true to form in this game, allowing a late goal by Brent Seabrook with 15 seconds remaining to force overtime. Martin Hanzal won the game with his goal at 9:29 of O/T.

Speaking of overtime, this series had five (not a typo) overtime games. In fact the only regulation time game was in game six when the Coyotes eliminated the Blackhawks 4-0.

Game Two: Blackhawks 4 Coyotes 3 O/T

Almost a carbon copy of game one. The Blackhawks dominated early, and the Coyotes came back. Antione Vermette scored two goals, and Bryan Bickell matched that by adding the game winning in overtime at 10:36. The Coyotes had this game in hand, but gave up a late goal again this time with just six seconds on the game clock. The series now moves to Chicago.

Game Three: Coyotes 3 Blackhawks 2 O/T

ANOTHER OVERTIME GAME ! This time Ray Whitney scored the game tying goal at 9:21 of the last stanza. It went to overtime, and Mikkel Boedker won it with a goal at 13:15. Mike Smith came up huge again with 35 saves on 37 shots and a .946 SV%. Boedker’s goal came practically horizontal to the goal-line near the left face-off circle. It caught Crawford by surprise, and put the Coyotes in a 2 games to one lead in the series.

Game Four: Coyotes 3 Blackhawks 2 O/T

Despite taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the third period, where all the scoring occurred, the Coyotes allowed the Blackhawks back into the game once again. And once again, the Desert Dogs found a way to win it in overtime. For the second consecutive time, Mikkel Boedker was the overtime hero in this game. Smitty was strong again in the net with 30 saves and a .938 SV %. Taking a 3-1 series lead by taking both games in the Windy City was the dagger in the heart of the Blackhawks. Going back to Phoenix for game five the Coyotes were in the driver’s seat… or were they? Don’t forget that all four games have gone into overtime, and the Chicago club was acting like they liked overtime games. They were able to take three of the first four games into overtime by pulling their goalie. So go figure.

Game Five: Blackhawks 2 Coyotes 1 O/T

Jonathon Toews won a faceoff in the Coyotes’ zone, tracked down the puck, moved back into the circle beating Coyotes’ goalie Mike Smith with a shot under the crossbar 2:44 into overtime as the Blackhawks beat the Coyotes 2-1 to stay alive in the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Coyotes had a 33-1 regular season record when leading after two periods, but in this series they went 1-2. The Coyotes without a playoff series win since 1987 when they were in Winnipeg were hoping to eliminate the Blackhawks, but that has to wait until the next game.

Game Six: Coyotes 4 Blackhawks 0

Oliver Ekman-Larsson had a goal and an assist, as did Kyle Chipchura, and Gilbert Brule in the deciding game six. But, make no mistake this game belonged to net-minder Mike Smith. The Blackhawks powered Smitty with 28 shots through the first two periods, and added another 11 in the last stanza, but Smith would not be denied. The shutout was the most one-sided game of the six played, with all the others being overtime thrillers. The Coyotes removed all doubt that they can play with the tough Chicago team. With the victory, the Coyotes moved on to play the Nashville Predators in the second round… a place they have been during they entire stay in Phoenix.

** SEE THE NEXT POST ON THE NASHVILLE PLAYOFF SERIES **

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