Arizona Coyotes Need To Regroup On Homestand
After a wretched five game road trip without a win, the Arizona Coyotes need desperately to turn things around.
Coming back from a road trip as disastrous as losing five straight not only can jolt your team’s confidence, but it can bring back nightmare memories of last season. (sorry I had to go there…) And, we all know thinking of that can only depress you as an Arizona Coyotes fan. Giving up 24 goals in five games (4.8 goals a game) will not win you too many NHL games.
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When you review the road trip, there were three tough games (Nashville, Detroit, St. Louis), and two winnable games (Buffalo, Carolina). Unfortunately, the team lost all five. Turnovers seem to be the latest culprit for this team to overcome if it hopes to start playing well enough to be considered for post-season play.
It’s easy to surmise that the defense, and goaltending get most of the blame for such a performance on this recent road trip from hell. The schedule-makers can take some credit as well. With 18 of their first 28 games being played away from home, that can take the wind out of many NHL teams.
The good news is, the team now has nine games remaining in December, and eight of them are at home. FINALLY ! The home record for the Arizona Coyotes is 6-4. They are riding a three game winning streak at home, as well.
As Max Domi puts it, the road games are over with, and there is nothing you can do about the outcome. They now need to focus on improving their play by reducing their turnovers, and playing a tighter defensive game. They want to make it as tough on their opponents coming into Gila River arena as possible.
I know what you’re thinking… what about the injured players? Shane Doan has missed eight games, and when the team needs their leader, they need their leader. He will be evaluated in practice prior to the Wild game, and we should know more then.
Martin Hanzal… let’s hope he’s back. The BIG guy missed the last road game and was listed “day-to-day”. The valuable assets he possesses in face-off wins and play-making, make him an important cog in the wheel of success for the team.
More importantly, the team needs to show the league that they are not a horrible team facing the depths of disaster, just because they got thrown on the road for 64 percent of the games thus far this season.
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Perhaps, during this home-stand Vikor Tikhonov can start to show why the Arizona Coyotes picked him up off of waivers. If he can find his range, and start to show some offense/defense, the team’s fortune may improve.
Will Connor Murphy get out of Dave Tippett’s dog-house? He did practice recently, but Tipp needs to see some improvement from the young blue-liner to make him have confidence in playing him in a regular role again. Factor in that Stefan Elliott’s play (one goal, two assists in the last five games) in his role replacing Murphy, has been made it difficult for Tippett to change things just yet.
The main thing the Arizona Coyotes need to repeat to themselves over and over is… THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME… THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.