Who has been hot and cold for the Arizona Coyotes recently

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The Arizona Coyotes have played nine games so far during the month of February. While it has not been their best month, they have had worse before right?

The Coyotes are currently 4-3-2 in the month of February. That is not the best record this month, that goes to the Tampa Bay Lightning who are 9-0-0 this month with 18 points so far, but we also are not the worst record either. Tonight when the Coyotes faceoff against the Dallas Stars and then have to turn around and play the St. Louis Blues tomorrow night, two of the top teams in the western conference.

Now you might be wondering where the Coyotes fit into the point total so far in February, they are tied for the fifth-best point total this month with 10 points. Obviously, we still have some ways to improve, but we are competing!

We understand that the Coyotes have not been great, but that does not mean some individual players are not playing to the best of their ability. There have been some players who have been giving the Coyotes a chance to win on a nightly basis, there are also some players who could do a lot better. Let’s break down some of the players who are hot and cold during the month of February.

TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 11: Oliver Ekman-Larsson #23 of the Arizona Coyotes skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 11, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Coyotes 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

It is always fun highlighting the players that have been good. Unfortunately, that is not what we are looking at right now.

There are a number of players that have been cold for the Coyotes the past few weeks, and if this team is going to have any chance at making the playoffs they are going to need these guys to step up!

Cold: Nick Schmaltz

Nick Schmaltz currently leads the team in points with 40, but he has not really been that great the past few weeks. Schmaltz has just two assists during the nine games of February. While you can not expect your best player to score every game, you do need more from Schmaltz here.

Schmaltz has been a 53.1 percent in the faceoff dot this month so that is good, but at the same time, we need him to produce more points. I feel like out of every player on the team Schmaltz took the biggest step back after the acquisition of Taylor Hall.

Cold: Oliver Ekman-Larsson

The captain has been bad. In his five games this month he has two points and 10 penalty minutes. While I would like to see him produce more goals and assists, I think the biggest issue I have is the 10 penalty minutes. Ekman-Larsson has two penalty minutes per game this month, and that total leads the team.

We have talked at great lengths at how much the special teams are killing the Coyotes. Even if we have a great PK that can kill off a penalty when the team needs it we do not want to go short-handed. Going short-handed kills momentum and gives the other team scoring chances regardless of if the team scores.

Cold: Vinnie Hinostroza

Vinnie Hinostroza has one assist in the nine games he has played in this month. During that time he has 13:19 minutes of ice time per game on average, that is a lot of time to only rack up one assist. Depth scoring is what the Coyotes are going to need during the coming few months, and Hinostroza has not been able to provide it even when he has played with players like Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller.

Hot: Christian Dvorak

Christian Dvorak has a team-leading four goals during the past nine games. Dvorak has been playing great and has given the team a big goal when they needed it most. His speed and acceleration are really why I have Dvorak on this side of the list over Conor Garland who also has four goals.

Hot: Jakob Chychrun

Jakob Chychrun is leading the blue line, it is that simple. Chychrun has a team-leading seven points this month, two goals and five assists. Chychrun and Alex Goligoski have been leading the Coyotes blue line the past few weeks, and it is because of their success in their own end that the Coyotes have snuck away with some big wins. Well, it is because of them and the two goalies that have kept a lot of shots out of the net that is.

Hot: Antti Raanta

Antti Raanta and Adin Hill have stolen a lot of games for the Arizona Coyotes in the last few weeks. It is because of them that the Coyotes are still in the playoff race. I know people think we are missing Darcy Kuemper dramatically, but at the same time, it is not like he is going to come here and score goals.

Raanta and Hill have been a very good duo capable of stealing a win for the Coyotes. We are going to need to have our goalie playing at his best if we are going to win games that is for sure!

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