Arizona Coyotes Seeking Game to Game Consistency as Season Continues
The Arizona Coyotes need to play their style of game consistently to earn the right to be considered a legitimate playoff contender!
The road-weary Arizona Coyotes (11-7-2, 24 points) lost by a single goal to the equally road-weary Minnesota Wild (7-11-1, 15 points), losing 3 to 2 in regular time on Thursday night in Minnesota.
The concern here is that the Coyotes found themselves beaten by the same lower-tier team (at this point in the standings) twice in 5 days. Interestingly, the second loss came after the Coyotes defeated two upper tier teams in shootouts earlier in the week. What is wrong with this picture?
A common thread throughout the season thus far, a consistency if you will, is the Arizona Coyotes’ inconsistent play in their first 20 games.
Although injuries can affect a team’s make up as a whole, they should not impact the actual play on the ice when an injured player is absent. Players who are taught and who practice a particular system of play should be able to convert what they’ve learned into action on the ice consistent with what they’ve been coached to do.
If Coach Tocchet and his staff preach a specific philosophy and then teach certain methods based upon the players at their disposal, proper application and execution under game conditions should end in consistent and favorable results.
Whether it’s on the power play unit, the penalty killing unit, or on the ice during normal 5 on 5 play, it is critical that players know their own roles as well as their line mates’ roles to take advantage of the nuances, strengths, and tendencies of their on-ice teammates.
But alas, we know that hockey, like many other sports, is a game of mistakes. Teams that can take consistent and timely advantage of their opponent’s mistakes and capitalize on them are winners. The Coyotes can do the same thing and concurrently minimize being victimized by their own errors by playing focused, disciplined hockey.
Coaches will prepare their players for battle as effectively as they can, but it’s up to the Coyotes’ men in black to commit to performing their tasks on Saturday afternoon.
Just like speed, coaches can’t teach heart, desire, effort, or personal accountability. They may be able to facilitate its discovery and enhance it within a player, but either you have it or you don’t.
By avoiding mental mistakes and playing consistently “The Coyote Way,” the Arizona Coyotes can and will beat the Calgary Flames. Oh, and anyone else. Let’s go Coyotes!