Last night was an especially frustrating game to be a Coyotes fan. They lost 3-1 to the Stars (2-1 + an empty net goal; a distinction I feel we often fail to make). This was another game that they Coyotes could have won, but which they let get away from them.
"Could have won" and "Should have won" are two different things, it should be noted. The Coyotes did not deserve to win this game, but they could have because Mike Smith was awesome. Dallas really could have had a few more goals and Smith still could have been said to have played great. Like Doan said after the game, they wasted a great performance by their goalie.
This should not come as a surprise to anyone watching this team on a regular basis. They are the epitome of a .500 team. They win one, lose one. Great effort, terrible effort. There really isn't a lot they can do either, because while they have a solid group of defencemen and a great goalie, their forwards are pathetic.
Yes, there are guys I like and who I think are good long-term pieces, especially Boedker and Hanzel, but this is getting to be a joke. How the team can act like they are a playoff team, or on the verge of competing, when they do not have one single top line forward, is preposterous. Don Maloney has to make a move for a scorer before the season is lost.
I don't care that he scored again, and I don't care how good he has been playing, because if Antoine Vermette is your best player, you are screwed. Don't get me wrong, the guy has been lights out, but he is - at best - a solid third line centre, and if he is carrying your team, well, you are going to lose a lot of games 2-1 and 3-2. I took some condescending (read: didn't bother making an argument) flak from people yesterday for suggesting they trade him, but especially with him being signed through next year, you could probably get some solid value for him, and he's never going to be better than he is now.
Bottom line: the Coyotes need a forward - and not Ray Whitney - desperately.
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With the loss the Coyotes are now only one point ahead of the stars, instead of the five they would have been had they won. The Wild also seem to be pulling away, and if not for the NHL having the most insane and ridiculous way of keeping track of standings in pro sports history, they would now be ahead of the LA Kings.
Lucky for the Coyotes, the Canucks have lost five in a row, so eighth place still seems a viable option, however, along with the Stars, the Preds and the Jets are both coming on strong.
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