The Coyotes blew a 2-0 lead and ended up losing 3-2 in overtime, on a penalty shot, of all things, to the Canucks last night in Vancouver.
The night before, in Calgary, the Coyotes lost 2-1 to the Flames, also in overtime.
While the two overtime losses essentially equal a 1-1 record, as the last place team in the NHL, if you want to lose that title, you pretty much have to win at least one game when you face-off back-to-back against two of the other worst teams in the league. You know, if you want to keep any pride.
Even if you look at it the optimistic way, the two losses still have have some kind of negative psychological effect, don't they?
Well they sure as hell do when you get absolutely crushed by the Flames. 30% of the shot attempts, that's what Arizona had on Wednesday in a game they probably should have lost by nine goals.
Last night, they fared somewhat better, allowing Vancouver to have only 56% of the shot-attempts.
This wasn't a normal injury, the guy had to be stretchered off and taken to a hospital. I would say he isn't going to be playing for a long time, which sucks, because he's been one of the Coyotes' most popular players this year.
He hass five goals and nine points in 16 games. If you read about the Coyotes or talk to their fans, you'll see how he gets praised and praised despite scoring on 20% of his shots and putting up a 44% possession rating.
I hate to see a guy get injured like that, but taking Brad Richardson away from Dave Tippett is likely a good thing for the Coyotes. Only Domi - and I can't believe this is true - Shane Doan and Vrbata get more ice time 5v5 on the Coyotes (forwards only).
Since Brad Richardson can't play, Tippett can't play him and the Coyotes are better because of it. I am sorry to say it because I don't want to rip a guy who just got injured but this a blessing in disguise.
It's not that Richardson is a bad player, he's just over-matched playing against the kinds of players you play against when you play the fourth most ice-time on the team.
As for Dylan Strome and the rumors surrounding him, I would be shocked if the Coyotes traded him. He's a rookie with the talent to be a star top-line centre. There is no reason to trade him.
I can't explain why Tippett doesn't play him. Everyone around the team (and take this with a grain of salt) exults on Strome's maturity, professionalism and dedication to his craft.
But from training camp on, Tippett has refused to put him in a position to succeed, which makes no sense considering outside Ekman-Larsson and arguably Clayton Keller, he's the Coyotes' most important asset.
Instead, he's been given low minutes, bad linemates and no power-play time.
I am yet to hear an explanation for why Shane Doan is second on this team in ice-time at 5v5. Since the team is in last place, and looks like it's staying there, what is there to lose by giving Strome 20 minutes every night, including PP time and time with Domi and Duclair?
Nothing.
A true rebuild would have given the Coyotes a year to lose while playing the kids. Instead they skate guys like Marinook, Vbarata, Doan and Richardson for an amount of minutes that is counter-productive to the teams long-term interest but which - to their thinking - when combined with OEL, Mike Smith, Hanzal, Stone and Murphy should give them an outside shot at a Wildcard.
Of course, Stone and Murphy kind of suck and that is a pipe-dream, but when has that ever stopped anyone?