The Arizona Coyotes finally scored their first goal of the season last night when Dylan Strome scored on the power-play near the end of the first period.
For the Coyotes, who are now 1-2, it was almost seven full periods without a goal.
Even if you were playing terribly, that would be hard to do - like getting paid for hitting no numbers in a game of Keno. *Shout-out to all the old ladies in my Gramma's retirement home!
The Coyotes, however, have not been playing terribly. They've played good enough to win an all three of their games so far (despite missing four regulars: Galchenyuk, Dvorak, Archibald and Chychrun). They are the NHL's third best possession team so far, coming in at a very impressive 60% CF.
They have a +28 shot differential.
They have a +31 scoring chance differential.
And they have a +12 high danger scoring chance differential.
This is without four regulars.
And the crazy thing is this: They currently have zero 5v5 goals on the season. Last night's goals came on the PP or in the shoot-out.
The Coyotes currently sit third in shots-against per 60 minutes of 5v5 hockey, while coming in fifth in shots-for per 60, and sixth in scoring chances per 60.
They have played three solid games, including two where they just absolutely dummied the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
The Ducks allowed 40+ shots on Sunday and won.
Last night they almost won while being outshot 39-25.
John "Goldberg" Gibson has basically been the best player in the NHL so far this season, and his performance last night was, once again, amazing. His team did absolutely nothing and he got them a point.
Somehow, the Ducks just picked up three of the most undeserving points ever attained in the NHL, out of a possible four. Both Ducks goals were scored on a pair of sweet triple dekes by Charlie Conway.
For the Coyotes, Strome didn't just score, but he was 60% 5v5 led the team in PP ice time. Tocchet needs to get him more ice time at 5v5 (he had the fourth least on the roster last night) but really, as good as the team is playing it's hard to argue with the coach right now.
Strome did get 17 minutes overall which is great. But if you have an above average 5v5 player on your roster, you're only hurting yourself if you don't utilize him.
Overall, great game, and a real nail biter considering how early in the season it is - after last year's 0-45 start, the Coyotes really didn't wanna lose three games in a row.
Also, winning makes the fact they haven't scored yet at 5v5 more hilarious than sad.
Still, this is something remarkable, because you couldn't do it on purpose even if you had a bad team. The Coyotes are pretty good and so far I'd say their early season performance definitely gives credence to the idea of them in the playoffs.
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