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Coyotes Fever! Strome v Strome + Islanders and Canadiens

October 21, 2016, 2:23 PM ET [49 Comments]
James Tanner
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The Coyotes were in tough last night in Montreal since it was Carey Price's first game of the season and Montreal is always tough at home.

The Canadiens controlled the play at even-strength and the Coyotes have a long way to go before they can compete with teams that think they're playoff teams.

And that's OK. The Coyotes are going young and the youth movement is fun as hell. There is a world of difference between trotting out Antoine Vermette and Klas Dahlbeck et. al. and what is happening this year.

Domi, OEL, Chychrun, Dvorak, Dauphin, Duclair and Strome.



What's not to like?

Maybe you'll even like it so much you catch Coyotes Fever. I suggest you try, what with NHL Centre on Ice on a free preview there's no reason at all not to take in a game. These guys can fly and have a good half-dozen players worth the price of admission. (Which is nothing, but that's not what I meant).

Yeah, it's gonna take some time, and Louis Domingue didn't help allay any fears about a long-term Mike Smith injury (I heard someone whisper surgery, but who knows).

Fact is though, the Coyotes aren't playing to win this year, they're playing to learn how to win next year, and so you're gonna get games like what we saw last night, which is exactly what it looked like: a veteran team playing against an inexperienced one.

But there were some positive developments: Jacob Chychrun scored his first NHL goal, and he did it while playing almost as much at 5v5 as OEL.

It's really fun watching him play and I think he's done well so far.



A negative development would be that the Coyotes are the 7th worst possession team so far and are 6th worse for expected goals against per 60.

Sure, it's early, but it's something to keep an eye on.

Tonight, it's game three of six on the road to kick off the season and it's New York vs the Islanders. For those who love a good narrative it's Strome v Strome.

Have a good weekend.
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