The Coyotes started the night only five points out of the playoffs. In baseball terms, they sat a mere 2.5 games out - the kind of ground that can be made up in a weekend if you're playing the right team.
But in the NHL, it's different. The optimism of only being five points back is a lie similar to those spouted by, say, a satanic spokeswoman with no concern for the truth, the well being of others or general morality.
So basically, the NHL standings are Kate from Days of our Lives.
The Coyotes are five point out of a playoff spot, but consider all the teams they have to catch constantly play each other in games that are going to overtime as often as not, so they might as well be 15 points out.Again, Optimist: five points out.
Pessimist: Three points from last overall.
Here is an example of how crazy things are:
The Coyotes, just five easy to get points out of a playoff spot, play the Kings tonight.
The Wild play the Hawks.
The Blues play the Sabres, and the Devils play the Bruins.
If the Blues, Blackhawks, Devils and Kings all win in regulation tonight, tomorrow's NHL standings will show the Coyotes tied for 30th and one point out of last place.
Well, I shoulda laid down some money because all four teams did exactly as I said and guess what? The team that was only five points out of the Playoffs at the start of play last night is now sitting in a tie for 30th place, one point out of the basement.
It was the 14th time in 37 games that they scored one goal or less.
Basically, Big Bird from Sesame Street is more offensive than the Arizona Coyotes.
I don't know what else to tell you: From five points out to a virtual tie for last place overnight.
And the last place team features Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, and Anze Kopitar. I mean, that's no Cousins, Oesterle and Hill, but it's pretty damn good.
The Coyotes first line last night: Panik - Stepan - Keller. They had a line of Crouse - Cousins and Archibald and it wasn't their fourth line.
If you need me, I'll be cheering for my new favorite team, the Washington Generals!
On the bright side, there were no season ending injuries in last night's game, and Galchenyuk is starting to look like the player we thought we were getting!
Go Yotes!
I wish there was a cool rhyme to say about the rest of the season, something like Don't Win for Hughes. I'm no Doctor Seuss. (Although I am pretty sure we both got our medical degrees from Devry). Enjoy your Friday!