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Arizona Coyotes Fail to Protect Their House and Get Stomped by Calgary Flames

By Scott Thompson

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23, Jason Demers #55, Christian Fischer #36 and Carl Soderberg #34 of the Arizona Coyotes stand attended for the Canadian national anthem before the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at Gila River Arena on October 30, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Canadiens defeated the Coyotes 4-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23, Jason Demers #55, Christian Fischer #36 and Carl Soderberg #34 of the Arizona Coyotes stand attended for the Canadian national anthem before the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at Gila River Arena on October 30, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Canadiens defeated the Coyotes 4-1. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Coyotes began their defense of their home ice at Gila River Arena on Tuesday night with a deflating loss to the surging, third place Calgary Flames.

When the Calgary Flames beat the Colorado Avalanche 5 to 4 in OT on Colorado’s home ice on Monday night, I knew the Coyotes were going to have their hands full in Glendale 24 hours later. Just as the confident but ultimately-defeated Avalanche needed to protect their house, it was just as critical for the Arizona Coyotes to begin defending their Glendale home at Gila River Arena to sustain their “earned on-the-road” momentum and to maintain the point separation between the Flames and the other Pacific Division teams that are chasing the ‘Yotes in the standings.

Well folks, that didn’t happen and the boys from Calgary stomped all over the desert dogs, winning 5 to 2. In fact, the red-hot Flames scored their first two goals within the first few minutes. Yep, you guessed it, the ‘Yotes therefore had to chase the game for the remaining 55 or so minutes, and we pretty much know how that ends up, don’t we! Oh, and those pesky and talented Flames are now only two points behind the normally competitive and impressive Arizona Coyotes.

We fans collectively realize that it was essential for the Coyotes to return home and consistently win their games on home ice if they expect to make the playoffs. Although we haven’t even reached the season’s midpoint, the Coyotes can’t afford to give points away at home. On Tuesday night they practically handed the Flames the two points nicely wrapped and adorned with a lovely bow. The game was a stinker from start to finish, and at times it seemed as if the Flames had 7 skaters on the ice rather than 5.

Beginning with the Chicago Blackhawks, who are itching to play the Coyotes again on Thursday night, the ‘Yotes have 26 home games remaining. Seems like a lot, doesn’t it? Yes indeed, and that’s a good thing if you consider those games as golden opportunities for the ‘Yotes to embrace them and win. They could then distance themselves from the remainder of the pack by taking care of business at home, a nice concept and an achievable goal.

Nine of those games are against Pacific Division opponents, and another 4 are against teams in the Western Conference’s Central Division. Right there are 26 valuable points for the taking, but thus far the Coyotes have had trouble imposing their will on their visitors, and home wins are nothing to take for granted at GRA!

Let’s hope that last night’s debacle against the high-flying and upwardly mobile Flames was a “one-off” and that the Coyotes respond on Thursday night against the visiting Blackhawks with much-needed focus, ferocity, and sense of purpose that exceeds what the boys from Chicago are planning on bringing. Let’s go Coyotes!

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