Follow @james_tanner123 Tonight the Oilers come to town. Sadly, it will be without Connor McDavid, but the Oilers are still a highly talented team that despite it's lack of success tends to be fun to watch.
Of course, the Coyotes are always an adventure.
They are, of course, on a logic-defying run right now, going 7-1-2 in their last ten. Even with a loss tonight, the Coyotes would remain seven points ahead of the Oilers with two games in hand.
Good times.
But now for the bad news: This is likely all a mirage.
Statistically, they have the fifth highest PDO and the second worst possession stats.
Hilariously, everyone wants to give the credit to Dave Tippett. As if he is stopping the puck. His coaching isn't limiting shots. And it's not as if he's making the team who has the second lowest amount of shots in hockey score at a rate that can only be called fortunate. (It's the second highest shooting percentage in the league).
Anyways, I guess if I haven't learned by now that the majority of people paid to analyze hockey will look at the standings and make the most backwards and un-critical assessments of the game and team, I guess I never will.
But again, don't take this reality check as me hating the team, as some tend to. I love the fact that the Coyotes have Murphy, OEL, Domi and Duclair - they are all fun to watch every game.
The Oilers will shortly be adding two x #1 picks to their lineup.
The Ducks don't score, but that too is luck. They will eventually be, at least, a Playoff team.
The Sharks are also a deep and excellent team.
The Pacific won't look so cheap and easy in the not too distant future.
It might be possible, however, for the Coyotes to fend off the Wild or the Avalanche if they added a couple of capable centres and improved their defense a bit.