Thoughts on the Game
Last night the Coyotes played the Oilers in a thrilling hockey game in which the the visiting Coyotes held on for a one goal victory in a game in which they lead 4-0 at one point.
Now, its really easy to look at a game like this and say that once the Coyotes had such a lead, they just sat back and held on. This wouldn't be entirely wrong, but as usual, the truth is slightly more complicated.
The Coyotes were winning 3-0 after the first period, but that wasn't really a fair score. Mike Smith was solid - making several big saves when it was 0-0 - the shots were 15-15, and the scoring chances about even after the first period.
The Coyotes were able to capitalize on their chances however, and they lead 3-0 after one. In the second, the Coyotes took two quick penalties but killed off a 5-3, then when Moss (serving a Smith penalty) exited the box, him and Ribeiro combined to make it 4-0 only 23 minutes into the game.
What followed was a definite positive for the Oilers and their young team. Despite being down by four, they didn't quit and they battled almost all the way back. The Coyotes nearly blew their big lead, but this wasn't because they just held off and let the Oilers back into the game - the Oilers were never out of it because they never really deserved to be down 4-0.
Compared to the Dallas/Toronto game I watched other night, in which the Leafs fully deserved to be down by four goals, this game was only lopsided in its score. Perhaps this is why hockey is the most interesting of all sports - scoring is so difficult to do that at times goals almost appear random and the score is not always indicative of the play. As it was, the game was a hard fought, exciting to watch, high scoring affair - a far cry from the snooze fest in Calgary the other night.
One big factor in last night's game was the return of Martin Hanzal. Due to the NHL's idiotic policy of not telling anyone whats wrong with a player, all I know is that it was a "lower body injury," but Hanzal looked strong in his return. He's a two-way player with size and a mean streak and he might just be the the Coyote's best overall forward. Their game has a noticeable difference when he is in the lineup - they are just a way better, more physical team - and I am starting to think that he may be one of the NHL's most under-rated players.
Rundblad was again a healthy scratch. I feel bad for the guy as he just can't seem to get into the lineup for even two games in a row. I feel he brings more to the table than it seems, but with OEL and Yandle, and even Stone, the Coyotes don't lack for puck moving defenseman.
Much like the Leafs earlier in the year when John-Michael Liles couldn't get into their lineup due to a similar duplication of skills, I think the time has come to move Rundblad out to a team that could use him. Since the Coyotes traded Turris for him, and since Turris is blossoming into the player we always thought he would become, this might hurt, but it has to happen.
I didn't mention it earlier in the week, as maybe I should have, but after going the entire year without a short handed goal, the Coyotes scored two in back-to-back games earlier this week. Both were by penalty killing machine Antoine Vermette.
If you missed the game, you have to check out the highlights: The goal scored by Boedker was simply beautiful, as he snapped a shot to the top corner that no goalie could have stopped. When you see him making plays like this, you can't help but wonder how many points he might have if Tippett played him 20+ minutes per night, rather than the average of 17 minutes he does get.
The goal scored by Peron was even better. It was an absolute beauty and you have to see it.
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Watching the Oilers last night, one can't help but be excited about their team. They lost their sixth in a row and I get that fans of their team are really frustrated. What I don't get really is why - or rather, I know why, but I disagree. Strenuously.
The team got a new coach and GM this year. The fans felt the kids they drafted were talented enough to win on their own. They heard Mactavish promise "bold" moves. They are sick of losing.
But from an outsiders perspective: why worry?
There isn't a team in the NHL that isn't jealous of the players they have been accumulating. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Nail Yakupov, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Justin Schultz, David Perron and Darnell Nurse represent the best group of young players in hockey by a mile. I get the fans are sick of being told to be patient, but they have to be patient.
Who cares how much you lose when you eventually win? And they will. Comparisons to how long it took Pittsburgh or Chicago are futile. Each situation is different. In my opinion, rather than lamenting what a terrible job that Lowe and Mactavish are doing, I think they should be commended for their patience.
It would be so easy to trade Eberle or Yakupov for players that could make them competitive right now. I think the boldest move they can make is to stand pat. They certainty should not acquiesce to the whims of their fans. With idiots throwing jerseys on the ice or making ridiculous Facebook protests, the best they can do is ignore them. I don't think writing open letters is a good policy either. Best to just say nothing and work on fixing the team. A team which, I reiterate, has the best young group of players in hockey.
They aren't always going to be this bad. Hall, Eberle, Hopkins are all locked up long-term. Yakupov is going to be a 50 goal scorer. Losing builds character and they are going to add another top prospect to a group that is already unreal.
"The last thing this team needs is another 18 year old," is something I have read 100 times and I couldn't disagree more. You get the best players by drafting high and you win by having more of the best players than the other teams. The Oilers are already maybe the most exciting team to watch in the whole NHL. They are only going to be more-so when they start winning, which they eventually will.
"But all this losing is going to ruin the kids." Well, if that's the case, they are too weak to make it in the NHL anyways and it doesn't matter. Losing is a first world problem. Taylor Hall is a millionaire who is 22 years old. If his team loses, he still gets to play a game for a living and not have to worry about things like getting braces for his kids or affording food or paying the rent. If he can't handle playing on a bad team for a while without somehow losing all of his skill and his will to live, then screw him - you were never going to win with him anyways. Now, I happen to think Hall is a great kid and that this is only going to make him better in the long run.
So, who cares if it takes another year or two of losing? The payoff will be dynamite. And there will be a payoff. The only thing that can stop the Oilers from being a dominant force in the NHL for the next ten years is to panic and make a move to placate their fans - who are too emotionally involved to know better.
--- Things I Hate:
Can we please stop with the "keys to the game"? I see them at the start of every single hockey game and they are usually more idiotic than a quote from Glen Healy.
Here are some recent examples: Tighten up defensively; Be patient; Capitalize on the opposition; Limit turnovers; Make big saves.....etc.
These aren't keys to any specific game, they are generic platitudes applicable to any team at any time. I am yet to see a key to the game that could not be applied to every team every game.
Why not just say the key to the game is to wear skates? Or to make sure you remember to exhale after you inhale? I get that broadcasters have to fill up nearly two and half hours around sixty minutes of hockey, but it just gets annoying.
Even worse sometimes are the intermissions, which is why I always try to tape the games I want to watch. The other night I sat through a ten minute discussion on who should acquire Brad Boyes. That's right - ten minutes on Brad Boyes. It felt like six hours. Who cares who gets Brad Boyes? If the Coyotes got him, I'd just be angry they weren't giving his ice time to someone younger who might actually help the team when they are capable of winning. The only person who cares who gets Brad Boyes is Brad Boyes. It was brutal.
And don't even get me starting on Live Tweeting. I only recently learned what this was and already I hate it. If you are dropping Tweets during a game, you know what you aren't doing? Giving it your full attention. And who reads these? What are you doing looking at your phone while the game is on? What do I care what someone has to say about the game I am watching with MY OWN EYES?
Also, being Canadian, I don't get why everyone in Phoenix makes such a big deal about Tim Horton's coffee being available at the arena. Its not that good. Its like drinking Bud or Coors Light or listening to Maroon 5 - its popularity is based on its generic flavor and bland taste. Nothing is worse than wrapping up your nationalism in a corporate entity and it should be know that Tim Horton's is most famous for paying their workers minimum wage while raking in billions in corporate profits, as well as eliminating the kind of Mom and Pop coffee shop that actually had an atmosphere. They are basically the Canadian Walmart.
Thanks for reading.
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