Arizona Coyotes 3 Stars of the week 11/3 – 11/10

It was not the best week of hockey for the Arizona Coyotes. The team finished with a record of 1-2-1 this past week, not very good. Arizona dropped two straight games at home in front of their own crowd and did so by blowing a lead both times.

Arizona played four games this week, two at home and two on the road. The week started off with games in Edmonton and Calgary then back at home against Columbus and Minnesota. The Coyotes gave up a lead in every one of those games, not very good.

Although the team has been struggling that does not change the fact that there are a few players stepping up. With that in mind check out our 3 stars of the week!

(Last weeks Stars: 3  Alex Goligoski, 2  Darcy Kuemper, 1 Conor Garland)

Number 3 Star of the week: Jakob Chychrun

Defenseman Jakob Chychrun really seems to be coming into his own. The 21-year-old Coyote has two goals in the last two days, not bad for someone who struggled last year with chronic pain. 

Chychrun needs to continue to find the right spots in the offensive zone if he wants to continue to score goals. His goal against the Wild is a prime example of getting to the open ice and finding a way to capitalize. For that alone Chychrun has earned the third star of the week.

Number 2 Star of the week: Vinnie Hinostroza

It was alone a matter of time for Vinnie Hinostroza.  After putting up 39 points last season we all expected Hinostroza to take the next step in his career. He finally seems to be doing that. After being held to just 2 points through the first 14 games he has found a way to turn it on.

In his last 3 games, Hinostroza has a point per game, including 2 goals. Hinostroza even netted this pretty goal against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night.

Hinostroza needs to continue to get to the dirty areas and put the puck on the net. Vinnie has 8 shots in the last 4 games, not bad from someone who only averages 12:32 minutes of ice time a night.

Number 1 Star of the week: Michael Grabner

Michael Grabner has been all over the ice. Honestly when you look at this team the big example of a “role” player in my eyes would be Grabner. In the past 4 games, Grabner has 4 points, 2 goals and 2 assists.

Outside of those 4 points Grabner has touched the game in so many different ways. Anyone that watches the Coyotes knows that Grabner has speed. Grabner has the opportunity to beat players on the rush and to get past other teams defenseman. He has been using that skill all season and even has gotten some chances on the PK in the offensive zone because of it.

I think the best thing about Grabner’s speed is that he is using it at just the right time. When you have a gift like Grabner’s it sometimes will take a little extra energy to speed up the ice, you can’t do that all game. Grabner has analyzed every situation and knows when it is best to use an extra burst of speed. Because of all this and more Michael Grabner is the number 1 star of the week!