Tonight the Coyotes welcome the Bruins to town for a rematch of last weeks game in Boston, where the Bruins capitalized on a weak Phoenix first period to win 2-1.
Last night the Bruins won their 11th game in a row, defeating the Avalanche 2-0 and moving into a tie with the Blues in the President's Trophy race.
Unfortunately for the Coyotes, the Bruins used Johnson last night and so that means that Rask will likely be in goal for them tonight. When the two teams met last Thursday, Rask was the difference in a third period that saw the Coyotes dominate the game in search of the tying goal.
The loss to the Bruins was the only time the Coyotes have lost in their last six games. Should they win tonight, it will be only their second four game winning streak of the year.
It should happen though, since the Bruins are an eastern team on a western trip, playing back-to-back games and since they have won so many in a row, they are due for a loss. Right?
One can hope, but this game - regardless of outcome - is a great test for a team that seems to be finding itself at the perfect time of the year. If the Coyotes can play their second competitive game against the Bruins in just over a week, then maybe they are for real. Certainly both the Ducks and Kings look vulnerable lately, and knowing that the Blues and Sharks are notorious playoff failures, coupled with the insane play of Mike Smith and one of the best groups of defenseman in hockey, it's not unreasonable to think the Coyotes might be primed to go on a little bit of a run this spring.
Admittedly, a lot of things have to go right, but in a testament to the way things can change so drastically during an 82 game season, it seems bizarre that just a week after the Olympics ended (and coming off two losses to the Stars going into the break) the Coyotes appeared to be more concerned with the NHL Entry Draft than the Playoffs.
No matter what happens tonight against Boston, the Coyotes appear primed to make the last couple weeks of the schedule extremely interesting.
Look for Mike Smith to get the start again tonight. No injuries to report.
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