Coyotes playing with sense of urgency in home stretch By Mark Brown
G
iven the timing and schedule at this point of the hockey season, there’s an acceleration by teams to rush into postseason contention. Heading down the stretch and into the final weeks of the NHL campaign, the sprint to determinate playoff teams is underway in earnest. While players and coaches eschew any dialogue about the prospect of postseason play, that’s a topic on the front burners of fans and the media. Going forward, the discussion usually centers around one shift at a time and one save at a time. Collectively, these tenets of play form the core of a team’s approach. Equally important is the thinking and mindset of the schedule itself. With less than two months remaining in the season, nine teams are battling for the two final playoff spots in the Western Conference. Among teams in the Eastern Conference, Montreal and Columbus are trying to create separation from seven other teams within striking difference for the final postseason spots. Add the Arizona Coyotes to this mix. For a club that has not qualified for the playoffs since the spring of 2012, the task ahead seems challenging at best. That’s when goalie Mike Smith led the Coyotes into the Western Conference Finals against the eventual Stanley Cup-winning Los Angeles Kings. At the NHL All-Star break and through their mandatory bye week in late January, the Coyotes were but four points out of a final Western Conference playoff spot. Following a 4-2 defeat to Columbus at Gila River Arena in early February, the Coyotes experienced a losing streak that sent the club tumbling down the
standings. we’re one of them.” With teams like Minnesota, Vancouver, St. Louis, If the Coyotes qualify for postseason play, those in Colorado, Edmonton, Chicago and Los Angeles all the trainer’s room could make an all-star team. Beginclawing for playoff positions, ning with goalie Antti Raanta, the need for the Coyotes to who went down with a searight their ship becomes parason-ending knee injury on Nov. mount. 27, the list expanded. “We have fewer than 30 Last summer, Christian games left and need every Dvorak signed a six-year expoint we can get,” Arizona detension and remains sidelined fenseman Jordan Oesterle with a torn pectoral muscle. said. “Yeah, there’s a big sense There is no date for his return of urgency around here right to the ice. Then there’s Nick now.” Schmaltz, brought over earIf the Coyotes are to leaplier this season from Chicago. frog over teams and into conSchmaltz appeared in just 17 tention, the club will have to games for the Coyotes and continue without key compopicked up five goals and nine nents. Hit with major injuries assists for 14 points but has since training camp, those who been sidelined since Dec. 30 did not start the season with with his return also uncertain. Arizona continue as major conIn all, the Coyotes lost 241 tributors. man-games to injuries through Forward Conor Garland, their first 54 games on the ice. a fifth-round selection in the With the attempt to over2015 draft, was called up afcome injuries and face formiter leading the AHL’s Tucson dable opponents, coach Rick Roadrunners in scoring over Arizona Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson recent- Tocchet understands the mothe first quarter of the season. ly became the Coyotes’ all-time leading goal-scorer ment at hand. Since arriving, he has pumped among defensemen. Photo/Norm Hall “There’s urgency in Dallas in 11 goals in his first 27 games. Along the way, Gar- and in San Jose, and with us,” Tocchet said. “Look, land became the first rookie in Coyotes history to score guys are working hard, and we’ll come back and pracgoals in four consecutive games (Jan. 4-12). tice hard. That’s our go-to approach. Tomorrow is an“There is always an urgency,” Garland said. “There other day, and we need to figure out how out how to are many teams playing with an urgency here, and get some wins.” AZRubberHockey.com
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