The Arizona Coyotes went into the record books on Saturday. When they lost their 11th straight game to open the season, they tied a Rangers team from the 1940s for the dubious distinction.
But sharing records is for losers - they often come back scratched - and the Coyotes can own the mark tonight against the Flyers. All they have to do is follow their tried and true recipe for unsuccess: play pretty good and have the goalie blow it.
The goalie tonight will be the recently acquired Scott Wedgewood. Wedgewood is the fourth goalie to start for the Coyotes this year in twelve games.
But there other problems: Coach Tocchet has not been very good either. At one point, down a goal with a minute or so left and the goalie pulled, the Coyotes let in an empty netter with Zac Rinaldo on the ice.
Then there is letting Strome make the team, playing him with bad players and then sending him down after just three games. That makes no sense.
Tonight he will make another terrible decision when he healthy scratches Anthony Duclair. Duclair has three goals, and is over 50% CF. He is one of just ten Coyotes players above water. But sure, don't play him. Especially when you have the all-star Nick Cousins and his lack of offensive and 47% possession rating.
In other news, OEL will play after maybe maybenot getting concussed last game.
Also, and this is crazy, the Coyotes have recalled Goalie Hunter Misca from Tuscon of the AHL and he will back up Wedgewood tonight.
If you include the game Langhammer served as a back-up, that is six goalies the Coyotes have had at least dressed for a game this year.
Jesus.
Well this probably is going to get worse before it gets better. Personally, I'd like to see if Tocchet ever wins a game......just how patient can the Coyotes be? I am not saying he should be fired, but obviously something isn't working.
Or trust the process. I'm all turned around. Who even knows? Maybe the Coyotes could come up with a better lineup by using the name in the hat system? At this point, what could it hurt?
Thanks for reading.
Stats from naturalstattrick.com