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Trolling With Tanner + Coyotes @ Avalanche

November 25, 2014, 11:22 AM ET [40 Comments]
James Tanner
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The Coyotes are in a bit of a slump.

Maybe.

Depends how you look at it, because the one point for an OT loss thing can really skew how you view these things.

One one hand: In their last six, the Coyotes won two in a row, then lost in OT, lost a close game, won a game in OT, then lost a close one.

On the other: They havn't won a game in regulation in four games and have score just 1 goal in three of their last four games.

I want to be optimistic, but.......I can't be, because the team can't score. Mike Smith is the only reason we are sitting here trying to be optimistic, since Anaheim could have easily won 6 or 7 to 1 on Sunday night instead of the flattering score of 2-1.

So, I do think the team is slumping. I worry that they aren't addressing their lack of scoring, which, in my opinion could be addressed in one of two ways.

First, they could trade Yandle for a forward.

Second, they could ice a line of Boedker-Hanzel-Gagner and use it on the first power-play since what they've been doing isn't working. Look, I don't get it. The team can't score and their most used forwards are Vermette and Doan, who average 2 and 1 minute(s) more ice time per game, respectively, than any other forward.

If you aren't scoring, maybe change up who you use the most?

The Avalanche on the other hand are in last place in their division, but are starting to play better recently and look for their fourth win in five games tonight. Colorado, with Duchene, Landeskog, O'Reilly and MacKinnon cannot be this bad and despite their record represent a challenging game for the Coyotes.

In other notes, Lucas Lessio - who didn't score but looked OK to these eyes - has been returned to the Pirates. No announcement yet that I've heard but I assume that means that Moss or hopefully Gormley are about to come back. I assume Moss since Lessio is a forward.

I assume after the Ducks game that Smith will be in net even though his recent record (0-5-1 with a GAA approaching 3,and a save % under .900 on the year) might suggest that Dubnyk (5-0-1 .926%)

But what would Tippett care about stats, common sense or the past few games? This is of course the Doan-Vermette-Smith-Yandle show and nothing is gonna change it.

Enjoy the game and let that statement lead you nicely into our new segment:

TROLLING WITH TANNER

Offering you the best and worst of hockey commentary all in one. Here's a free sample from myself to kick it off, then on to some of the best Tweets of the week.


If the Norris was awarded today, it should obviously go to Suter and not Giordano.




That is an obviously un-photshopped pic of Lucic working out.




It's a funny joke, and sadly also probably true.




anilitix r dum bee-cause my tema was not outshot and losed.




I actually consider Don Cherry to be one of my heroes, but this is hilarious.




That's Mac-T trolling the rest of the league's 29 GMS. "Hey, you guys have a #1 Dman? I'll give you Perron and a goalie coach." (This last one is dedicated to Chris B, the king of horrible Yahoo trade offers).

Thanks for reading.
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