Arizona Coyotes Lose Another Game at Home, Crushed by Minnesota Wild 8 to 5

The Coyotes’ nightmare on home ice continued on Thursday night as the visiting Minnesota Wild soundly thrashed the ‘Yotes in a weird, high-scoring game.

The consensus is, and local hockey experts have stated, that it’s only one game and that the Coyotes have rebounded after a loss before, so chill, ‘Yotes’ fans. They’re right, of course, and the Coyotes have indeed won immediately following a loss, but not necessarily while playing at home before supportive but ultimately disappointed, head-scratching crowds.

Fact: As inexplicable, frustrating, and confounding as it may be, the Coyotes have now lost more games at home (8-9-1) thus far this season than they’ve won. Go figure.

Thus it’s probably a good thing that the desert dogs play their next three games away from home because they just can’t seem to play consistent, winning hockey in the friendly confines of Gila River Arena, which, by the way, is (somewhat) conveniently located in Glendale, Arizona. In theory GRA is there specifically so the “home” team can outplay and soundly defeat their opponents without traveling hither and yon to garner valuable points.

The ‘Yotes certainly don’t know how to stack hard-earned points by winning at home, and the Minnesota boys must have enjoyed beating the Coyotes in their comfortable home away from home. The Wild actually swept the season series 3 games to 0.

On Thursday night, the home debut of talented forward Taylor Hall, the Coyotes started the game with a bench minor penalty for too many men on the ice, although the Wild didn’t score on their initial power play opportunity. In fact, the ‘Yotes were first to score, with a goal by Phil Kessel assisted by Hall and Christian Dvorak. So far, so good at the end of the first period.

But alas, the referees insisted that the game continue, demanding that the teams play both the second and third periods, and all heck broke loose. The flurry of goals was mind boggling, and normally reliable goalkeepers Darcy Kuemper and Devan Dubnyk were shell shocked. When the smoke cleared, there were 13 goals scored altogether, Coyotes goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper lay wounded, literally, on the ice, and the Wild took their spoils and went home.

Maybe while in cold, wintry Detroit, or perhaps in lovely Nashville, or even in glittering Las Vegas, the Coyotes can “find” themselves, have an epiphany of sorts, and discover a way to win at GRA by the time they get back to play the Dallas Stars on December 29. Or not.

Maybe those puzzling, exasperating Coyotes will just have to figure things out for themselves while playing on home ice. You know, give it another try after they test their mettle outside Arizona in foreign lands.

Let’s hope there is light (and a few home wins) at the end of the tunnel for our hometown boys, and let’s pray for the health and speedy recovery for Darcy Kuemper. Lord knows he deserves it. Let’s go Coyotes!