Lower Expectations.
That's the only reason to explain why I saw all sorts of bragging and optimism about the Coyotes finishing their best October in years.
I thought maybe I had lost track of how good they got, so I pulled up the standings, and nope, people are just nutso.
The Coyotes 7-4-1 record is OK don't get me wrong, but it is also sixth best.
Not just in the NHL - that would be reason for optimism - no, it's sixth best in their division.
Yikes, playa, as they say in the backwoods of Canada where I earned my beard, axe and jean jacket.
The Coyotes 15 points puts them 9th in the West and outside a playoff spot.
Anyways, It is a good start, but it could be better.
The division seemed tough with Calgary, Vegas and the Sharks, but now that the Oilers and Canucks are good (or playing good enough to win lots of games) it's a nitemare division the likes of which you've never seen. (sorry too many Halloween shows lately).
The Coyotes will host the Avalanche tonight, and I wanted to write my game preview in whatever language it is people from Colorado speak, but I honestly can't understand it, whatever it is.
Then they can try to make up some ground in the division later this week with back-to-backs against Calgary and Edmonton, in the province of Alberta, which if you think about it, it makes total sense for Arizona to be in the same division as those teams - I mean, western Canada and Arizona are practically neighbors.
Tonight's game will be decided in overtime when Christian Dvorak scores the winner.