Twitter:@Coyotes1234
Trying to make like a four game losing streak at this time of year isn't so bad, is just too hard. Yeah, the goalie's been injured. And sure, the team picked up two points in shootouts, but it's just so emotionally draining to try to put a positive spin on a four game losing streak in April. There is always the fact that we lead such great lives that we can let a hockey team a get us down, right? Things have to be going pretty well, in general, to get upset about hockey. You aren't likely to care much, one way or the other, if, for instance, you recently ate some food out of a dumpster.
Still, last night's loss felt like a punch in the gut.
With one minute to go and a precarious one goal lead, Thomas Greiss, who has been so good during the unfortunate and ill-timed injury to starting goaltender Mike Smith, coughs up the puck behind his own net and allows the Oilers to tie the game on a fluky, stomach churning play.
The play was doubly unfortunate when you consider that Smith is probably the best puck handling goaltender in the NHL today and that he never would have let that happen.
Of course, overtime solved nothing, and the shootout, which was very entertaining, did not go the Coyotes way: Sam Gagner, with a hard to admit, but very sweet move, beat Greiss and the game was over.
53 seconds from a two-point lead, the Coyotes do grab a single point and temporarily move into eighth place.
However, the problem is that the Coyotes have played two more games than the Stars. Dallas will play those two games this weekend, while the Coyotes will sit home until Tuesday watching the scoreboard.
Tonight Dallas is in Tampa to play the Lightning and tomorrow they are in Sunrise to play the Panthers. Should they win both games in a worst case scenario, the Coyotes will be three points back with four to play. That kind of gap, with four games left, while not impossible, is unlikely to be overcome.
So, watching the scoreboard and hoping to get lucky. This is what happens when you lose too many games at a crucial time - you can't control what happens.
Well, that isn't so bad, really, when in life can you really control anything?
Like a certain Eastern team that shall not be mentioned, all this losing is not as bad as it seems: When you lose your starting goalie at a crucial time, how can you be expected to maintain a pace that was only marginally playoff worthy to begin with? Last time I checked, goalies were basically the most important members of the team. A back up can only mimic the star player for so long. So, while the play of the Coyotes and another grammatically challenged team seems to be both horrible and horribly timed, there isn't really a lot that can be done when your best player gets injured.
On the bright side, can we talk about that Oliver Ekman-Larsson move in the shootout. Was that a REVERSE toe drag? How would one even attempt that? I know he didn't score, but if you didn't see it, do yourself a favor and check it out. It is scary to think that this guy is only 23 years old and will still get better.
One final note that won't surprise anyone: Martin Hanzal left the game in the third period with an injury.
If you need me, I'll be watching a couple of Florida teams that have nothing to play for and hoping for a miracle.
Thanks for reading...