Sports News and Trade Rumors: Pro Sports Daily

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November 7

Arizona Republic

"Three defensemen - including the two assistant captains - are out with injuries, and coach Dave Tippett says situations like this can be dealt with through a strong team concept. Ed Jovanovski (lower body) was injured late in Thursday night's win over the Chicago Blackhawks, and his status is day to day. Zbynek Michalek (lower body) and Kurt Sauer (upper body) are listed as week to week. The Coyotes (10-6) reached the 20-point level three weeks sooner than last season, and they'll try to build on their 3-1 win over the Blackhawks against the Ducks (5-7-2) in Anaheim on Saturday night. "We're not the only team in the league with injuries," Tippett said. "It is what it is, and you have to ..."

Coyotes rebound vs. Blackhawks

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November 6

Arizona Republic

"If nothing else, back-to-back subpar efforts did one thing for the Coyotes: It made them angry - and a lot more focused. Peter Mueller scored his first goal of the season, and goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was outstanding to trigger a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Jobing.com Arena in front of 10,362. The victory halted a two-game skid. Aggressive play also returned. Bryzgalov made 31 saves, and the Coyotes shut down six Blackhawks power plays. "An emotional and passioned game," Bryzgalov said. "I think everybody was in tonight, and no passengers on our bus. Everybody did his role, and that's the key to why we won the game. "Our penalty kill was absolutely ..."

Hawks flunk history

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November 6

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Blackhawks owned the Phoenix Coyotes last season, winning all four meetings and outscoring them 13-1 in the last two. That was last year. In the first meeting of this season Thursday night, the Hawks -- showing signs of rust from a five-day break from games and hampered by a feeble power play -- were soundly beaten by the Coyotes 3-1 at Jobing.com Arena. Plagued with financial problems that led to declaring bankruptcy, the Coyotes now are owned by the NHL. They no longer have the legendary Wayne Gretzky as their coach, either. ''But they're a better team -- deeper, balanced,'' Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. ''They've got a mobile defense and good goaltending.'' ''They're a ..."

Chicago Blackhawks surviving early injuries

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November 6

Chicago Tribune

"The Phoenix Coyotes are clearly a different animal this season. The Blackhawks found that out the hard way Thursday night as they took them on for the first time since sweeping them in convincing fashion in four meetings last season. The Coyotes scored the first three goals and handed the Hawks a 3-1 defeat before 10,362 at Jobing.com Arena. During 2008-09, the Hawks outscored the Coyotes 20-4. Thursday night it was Phoenix doing the scoring as it got goals from Martin Hanzal, Peter Mueller and Scottie Upshall to back the solid goaltending of Ilya Bryzgalov (31 saves). The Hawks could manage only Kris Versteeg's short-handed score as the power play continued to misfire, going 0-for-6. The ..."

Coyotes let win slip away vs. Kings

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November 3

Arizona Republic

"A game that a home team should win: leading by two goals with time running out in the second period. It all boiled down to poor execution for the Coyotes on Monday night. They had their 10th win of the season in sight but were not able to maintain momentum in the final period and dropped a 5-3 decision to the Los Angeles Kings in front of 5,855 at Jobing.com Arena. "Tonight, we just weren't very good," Coyotes coach Dave Tippett said. "Right from theof the puck it was disappointing." The Coyotes (9-5) had a three-game winning streak snapped and lost for only the third time in the past 10 games. The Kings, another NHL surprise this season, improved to 9-4-2. Overcoming a ragged first ..."

Kings rally to beat Coyotes, 5-3

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November 3

Los Angeles Times

"Drew Doughty scored the go-ahead goal with 4:51 remaining and the Kings rallied to beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 5-3, on Monday night. Ryan Smyth scored twice, Anze Kopitar had a goal and two assists, and Justin Williams also scored for the Kings, who won for the first time in five games this season when down after two periods. The Kings ended a two-game losing streak. Shane Doan, Martin Hanzal and Scott Upshall scored for the Coyotes, who saw their three-game winning streak ended. Upshall had given Phoenix a 3-1 at 14:44 of the second period, taking a backhand pass from Robert Lang and sliding the puck between Jonathan Quick's pads. But then the Kings stormed back for their first win in three ..."

Judge approves sale of Coyotes to NHL

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November 2

Arizona Republic

"A judge was signing an order Monday morning that will take the Phoenix Coyotes out of bankruptcy. After nearly six months, the NHL purchased the franchise for $140 million. The action had been expected since last week, when team owner Jerry Moyes agreeed to the sale."

Coyotes win chippy affair vs. Ducks

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November 1

Arizona Republic

"At times it was like a brawl on an icy street. Other times it was . . . well, kind of the same thing. Pack mentality evolved into pack hostility. In a game that turned ugly early when Shane Doan was decked by a high hit and got uglier, Radim Vrbata scored the only goal in a shootout, giving the Coyotes a 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night in front of 6,495 at Jobing.com Arena. "I thought early on we were very good in the game, and the hit on Shane kind of tweaks your team," coach Dave Tippett said. "Shane's our captain, our guy that's our leader out there, and he takes a hard hit. I thought it affected our team a little bit and rightly so. "They want to avenge that hit. ..."

Coyotes' Upshall works on controlling emotions, energy

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October 31

Arizona Republic

"Scottie Upshall has speed to burn - and sometimes he gets burned by his speed. The Coyotes forward picked up six minutes in penalties against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night, including a double minor for high sticking, and saw only 8:35 of ice time. He was scratched by coach Dave Tippett on Thursday night in St. Louis. Upshall, whose 20 penalty minutes rank second on the team, said he was disappointed with the scratch but added, "Myself, as an energy guy, I've got to really control my energy and my emotions." The Coyotes (8-4) have been doing a lot of things well, but some of the penalties taken by Upshall and others have compromised their productivity, something they will be ..."

Coyotes forward Winnik's confidence up

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October 31

Arizona Republic

"The confidence level of forward Daniel Winnik, who scored the first goal in the Coyotes' 2-0 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night, is at a high level. And with good reason. Winnik, in his third season, had a load of trouble scoring in 2008-09, ending up with only three goals and four assists in 49 games. This year he has scored twice and recorded four assists through 12 games. "I think it (confidence) comes with playing in a comfortable role, and Tip's (coach Dave Tippett) kind of told me and Fidds (center Vernon Fiddler) we'll be penalty-killing, and we've got to be strong defensively and take care of your own end first, and chances are the offensive will come," he said. ..."

Gretzky raises no objection to Coyotes sale

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October 31

Arizona Republic

"Friday morning came and went without any objections filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court against an NHL proposal to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes. On Monday, the case will be back in federal court to review the $140 million deal and seek the blessing of Judge Redfield T. Baum, who has overseen the five-month-long bankruptcy case. The judge could sign off on the deal as early as Monday, paving the way for the Coyotes to get out of bankruptcy under NHL ownership. From there, the league will look to resell to a buyer willing to keep the franchise in the Valley. Going into Friday, the question was whether Coyotes' minority owner and former coach Wayne Gretzky would object to the NHL offer, which ..."

Gretzky deserves better from NHL

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October 30

Arizona Republic

columnist Paola Boivin

"Not even the instincts that made Wayne Gretzky one of hockey's greatest players could have predicted the off-season hits his once-impeccable reputation would take. Now, his relationship with the NHL has taken an ugly turn, just days away from a ruling on the league's proposed purchase of the Coyotes. Shame on you, NHL. It is clear after examining court documents and interviewing parties close to the situation that the league has done a shoddy job of reaching out and communicating with one of the sport's best representatives. Say what you will about Gretzky's performance as a coach or executive - he clearly made mistakes - but his track record as an ambassador of the game demands better. ..."

Blues left shooting blanks

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October 30

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"Two areas that were advantages for the Blues last season have proved to be disadvantages in the early part of the 2009-10 season. The Blues built a home-ice advantage at Scottrade Center a year ago, finishing with a record of 23-13-5 in the regular season. They also reached a comfort level on the power play, closing out the season with the eighth-best unit in the NHL. But after 11 games this season, neither the friendly confines nor the extra attacker have been good for the Blues, who saw those trends continue in a 2-0 loss to Phoenix on Thursday. The Blues fell to 1-4 this season at Scottrade Center, where the club's 11-game sellout streak was snapped Thursday with a crowd of 18,087. They ..."

Brewer back in lineup a little early

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October 30

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"The progress of Eric Brewer's nerve issue has been so rapid since early September the Blues' defenseman has surprised even those inside the organization. "We were worried," Blues President John Davidson said. "You didn't know if it was going to be another three months, six months, career, whatever ... we just had no idea." The club hinted Monday that Brewer was close to returning, but even with that clue, it was a jolt Thursday when he was inserted into the lineup against Phoenix. After missing 64 regular-season games, he stepped onto the ice 1 minute 40 seconds into Thursday's game and was greeted by applause from the crowd. "I wasn't very nervous," Brewer said. "I've kind of gone over ..."

Ex-Ranger revitalized in Phoenix

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October 27

New York Post

"Ten games into the season including last night's match at the Garden against the Rangers, and not one time has the Coyotes' Petr Prucha been a healthy scratch. "Finally!" Prucha exclaimed before the match, accompanied by a trademark smile as big as the desert. "It's good again." Prucha, who burst onto the Broadway scene in 2005-06 with a 30-goal rookie season, and captivated the Garden crowd with his frenetic style and relentless work ethic, had that smile wiped off his face last season. Tom Renney made Prucha a healthy scratch in 27 of the Rangers' first 38 games and in 36 of the 61 he coached before he was replaced on Feb. 25 by John Tortorella. "It's unbelievable; it's the best ..."

Moyes agrees to sell Coyotes to NHL

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October 27

Arizona Republic

"Five months after filing the team into bankruptcy, owner Jerry Moyes agreed Monday to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to the NHL. The deal, which still must be approved by a federal judge, should pave the way to get the hockey franchise out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court. From there, the National Hockey League will look to resell the team to a buyer willing to keep the team in Glendale. Battling parties, which have argued since Moyes filed the team into bankruptcy May 5, were pushed to find an agreement as the Coyotes continue to lose money. The NHL is funding the Coyotes' operating losses as the team goes through bankruptcy. But the league will get fully repaid out of the $140 million it offered for ..."

Gaborik scores twice, leads New York Rangers in 5-2 romp

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October 27

New York Daily News

"When Marian Gaborik is on his game and having one of those can't-miss nights, he is scary good. When he's limping off to the dressing room before the night is over, it's just plain scary for the Rangers. But on a night when the Rangers could take a deep breath and move on from their three-game skid, it was at least a sigh of relief to see Gaborik walking out of the trainer's room long after their 5-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes was over. That's when he said that what knocked him out of the game had nothing to do with the injuries that have dogged him so relentlessly in the past. "It's nothing related to my groin or hip or torso," Gaborik said "We'll see how everything is in the ..."

Rangers End Their Slump as Coyotes Agree to a Sale

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October 27

New York Times

"The Rangers beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 5-2, on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, winning for the first time in four games as Marian Gaborik scored twice to gain a share of the league goal-scoring lead. The night may prove to be significant for Phoenix. The bankrupt Coyotes seemed to move one step closer to staying in the Phoenix area under new ownership. In federal bankruptcy court in Phoenix, where a possible move to Southern Ontario was among the possibilities during contentious proceedings throughout the summer, the Coyotes' owner, Jerry Moyes, agreed to sell the club to the N.H.L., which has the last bid still on the table."

Ex-goalie Burke assisting in hockey revival

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October 23

Arizona Republic

"Sean Burke has lost a hockey team before. It hurts. It feels like a slap shot off the ankle, a hard check into the boards. He's doing his best to make sure it never happens again. Long a fan favorite in Phoenix, Burke now is the Coyotes' goaltending coach. He is managing and tutoring Ilya Bryzgalov, an eclectic Russian who is off to a great start in 2009-10. After rediscovering his career in Phoenix, Burke is making his mystical presence felt all over again. "I think that I can help," said Burke, who spent 19 years in the NHL. "And to me, that's what coaching is all about. If you can have an impact, if you can help a player see some results, if you can help them get to the next level, ..."

Hanzal's line comes up big late for Coyotes

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October 23

Arizona Republic

"When the Coyotes face a star-studded team like the Detroit Red Wings, center Martin Hanzal knows his job will be to shadow the likes of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. But that doesn't mean his line forgets about generating an offensive attack. "When you play in their zone and just forecheck, it's kinda defense too because you play in their zone and they don't have a chance to score," Hanzal explained. "So if you can lock them up in their zone, it's good too." That's exactly what Hanzal and linemates Petr Prucha and Radim Vbrata accomplished when Prucha heaved the puck through a scramble in front of the net with less than three minutes left in the third period, tying the game at two ..."

Coyotes rally, top Red Wings in OT

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October 23

Arizona Republic

"The battle in the crease in front of Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood was intense. And the winner was Petr Prucha. The Coyotes forward, holding his own in the scrum, hammered away at the puck and pushed it into the net to tie the score with 2:40 left in the third period and propel the Coyotes to a stunning, 3-2 overtime victory over the Red Wings on Thursday night in front of 11,938 at Jobing.com Arena. Defenseman Adrian Aucoin slammed in the game-winner with 3:03 left in overtime, as his shot from the top of the circle handcuffed Osgood and the puck ricocheted in off his upper body. "We haven't been producing too many points . . . and I hope this goal can help us in the future," ..."

Ex-Wing Robert Lang enjoying the desert

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October 23

Detroit Free Press

"Since leaving the Red Wings after the 2006-07 season, Robert Lang has made a home in Chicago and Montreal. Now he's a six-hour drive from his off-season home in San Diego, centering the top line for Phoenix between Shane Doan and Taylor Pyatt and helping the Coyotes to a surprising 5-2 start. "It's always nice to get off to a good start, especially here," Lang said this morning after Phoenix's skate at Jobing.com Arena. "Nobody really expected anything, but Dave Tippett came here and put in simple but pretty effective system in. Guys just want to play and so far it's been working, so it's been fun. It's kind of nice to get off to a good start and just feel good and just play hockey." Lang, ..."

Wings fall in Arizona

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October 23

Detroit Free Press

"The Red Wings saw Chris Osgood get pushed around, and from there, the ending was the same old story: A good, solid effort, and just one point to pocket. Playing before an announced crowd of 11,938 in the 17,999-capacity Jobing.com Arena Thursday night, a late 2-1 lead slipped away into a 3-2 overtime loss to the Coyotes. It's the second straight game the Wings have surrendered a one-goal in the last three minutes to end up losing. This one, though, sat especially badly: The Wings played very well for most of the second and third period, and they felt the Coyotes took liberties when they piled into Detroit's net and ended up with Petr Prucha's goal at 17:20 of the third period. "I thought ..."

Coyotes rally past Wings

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October 23

Detroit News

"Once again, the Red Wings did just about everything right -- except win. "It's just so frustrating because we've played pretty good the last couple of games and haven't been rewarded for it," goaltender Chris Osgood said Thursday night, after the Wings gave up the lead with 2:40 left and were beaten in overtime by the Phoenix Coyotes, 3-2. "Everybody feels real good. It's just one of those times in the season where we aren't getting any breaks." It was the Coyotes' fourth straight win, the Wings' third straight road loss and the second straight game they coughed up the lead in the final 2½ minutes. "We were set up to win the game and we ended up shooting ourselves in the foot and costing ..."

Tippett fuels Coyotes 'Miracle'

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October 22

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"When Phoenix Coyotes general manager Don Maloney went to the grocery store this summer, the checkout aisle took on a whole new meaning. "You'd have a Coyotes shirt on and people are saying, 'You guys are leaving, right?' " Maloney said Wednesday. "I was surprised so many people thought we already had left town and packed our bags." Nope. The Coyotes are still here. Not only that, they've won three straight games and, at 5-2, are the early-season surprise of the NHL heading into Thursday's game against the Detroit Red Wings at Jobing.com Arena. Will it last? Who knows. But given the chaos and uncertainty that still engulfs this franchise, Phoenix's success the first two weeks of the season ..."

Coyotes defense pushing fast start

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October 17

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes are getting better by degrees. They're fresh off a come-from-behind 3-2 overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues and take a 4-2 record and the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference into Saturday night's game against Boston at Jobing.com Arena. It has been a solid defense that has been the impetus for the fast start. The Coyotes have allowed only nine goals, fewest in the West. "We just want to go in and play another solid game," coach Dave Tippett said. "We're still in a situation where we're still getting better. I think we can get a lot better than we were (Thursday night), and hopefully we can get better again. "There's a lot of things to work on . . . there are things ..."

Coyotes set for Morris, Bruins

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October 17

Arizona Republic

"Derek Morris knew the "old" Coyotes. As an alternate captain who spent almost four years in Phoenix before being dealt at the trade deadline last season to the New York Rangers, Morris went through a lot of tough times as the team tried and failed to reach the postseason. The "new" Coyotes impress Morris, now with the Bruins, and he'll get the chance to battle his old teammates Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena. "They just look like a new team," said Morris, who has watched the Coyotes' games on television. "A fresh team, an exciting team. I wish them all the best - except for when we play them." The Bruins, who entered Friday night's game in Dallas with a 2-3 record, are led by Morris' ..."

Tippett has high hopes for Boedker

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October 16

Arizona Republic

"Forward Mikkel Boedker was the latest youngster to be reassigned to the San Antonio Rampage, and the Coyotes want him to profit from more playing time. "He's a great player, he's a great skater, a kid that still has some lessons to learn about playing in the league," coach Dave Tippett said. "If he's going to play six or eight minutes, he's better off down there playing the penalty kill, playing the power play." Boedker, 19, was a first-round draft pick (eighth overall) in 2008 and played in 78 games in his rookie season, with 11 goals and 28 points. He appeared in all five games this season. Tippett said Boedker has the potential to be a top-six forward, but "he's got to do the things ..."

Hearing to ensure NHL's bid is sufficient

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October 16

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes will be back in court later this month to discuss what it will take to sell the team to the National Hockey League and get it out of bankruptcy. From there, at least one potential buyer, Ice Edge Holdings, is waiting in the wings. A hearing on Oct. 26 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court is the first courtroom movement since a judge two weeks ago rejected both bids for the franchise. The judge tossed Canadian Jim Balsillie's offer and told the National Hockey League it would need to tweak its bid to satisfy the court. Since then, attorneys representing the team's unsecured creditors have been working with the NHL to revise its bid so the team can be sold and creditors paid. A court filing ..."

Coyotes launch 'We Win, You Win' promotion

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October 16

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes are launching a "We Win, You Win" ticket promotion that gives fans a free ticket to an upcoming game if the team wins. During designated nights, fans in attendance will receive a voucher. If the team wins that game, fans can redeem their game ticket and voucher for a free ticket to an upcoming game. The ticket can only be redeemed at the box office at Jobing.com Arena."

Coyotes rally for win over Blues

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October 16

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes want to make Jobing.com Arena a place where teams hate to play - but one their fans love to visit. Only 6,899 of them showed up Thursday night, but they were rewarded with a 3-2 overtime win in a game that featured a gift goal for the St. Louis Blues and a game-winner by Ed Jovanovski that was reviewed for more than five minutes. The Coyotes (4-2) needed a jolt after a less-than-stellar second period, and they found it when Scottie Upshall tied the game with 11:36 remaining. Jovanovski's goal came with 1:23 left in overtime, and then officials had to decide whether the puck went off his stick and was not punched in. The assists came from Vernon Fiddler, who fired the shot ..."

Goal in OT dooms St. Louis Blues again

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October 16

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"There weren't even 7,000 fans at Jobing.com Arena Thursday night, but the ones on hand were a vocal bunch after Phoenix defenseman Ed Jovanovski appeared to score the winning goal against the Blues. "G-O-A-L! G-O-A-L! G-O-A-L!" they yelled as the officials conducted a lengthy video review of the play. Then Jovanovski's goal was allowed and Coyotes celebrated a 3-2 overtime win over the Blues - who earned one point but have lost three consecutive games. "A step in the right direction, but we still weren't as strong," Blues forward David Backes said. "You see our game in the second period, when we were spending a lot of time in their end, chipping pucks in ... we might have spent 14 minutes ..."

Coyotes looking for some offense

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October 15

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes have scored only 11 goals in five games - but they sit at 3-2, thanks to good goaltending and tough defense that has allowed only seven goals, including an open-netter. The scoring needs to be punched up, and the Coyotes are hoping to take a step in that direction Thursday when they host the St. Louis Blues. Can one goal open the floodgates? "I think you spin it any way you can to make it the right thing," coach Dave Tippett said with a chuckle. "We've been battling. We've been unlucky around the net a little bit, but we're still finding a way to get some points, so I really believe our scoring will come. "Right now, it's about playing a strong team game that allows us to win ..."

Coyotes must outlaw the White Out

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October 15

Arizona Republic

columnist Dan Bickley

"The Coyotes look promising. The new coaching staff is receiving rave reviews. And in this race against time, we must pull out all the rabbits, all the stops. All remnants of Winnipeg should be removed from the arena. Exceptions will be made for Shane Doan, the equipment manager, and any other employees who once worked for the Jets. And in a ritual long past due, we must give back the White Out once and for all. Thankfully, the organization is thinking along the same lines. "There is something we may actually do," team Chief Operating Officer Doug Moss said. "We like the idea of a sandstorm a lot, where everyone is dressed in that sand, tan color. And we may end up doing something like ..."

Coyotes assistant coach King teaches more than the game

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October 15

Arizona Republic

"Skate hard, don't give up, have a good attitude - good qualities for hockey players that go a long way toward winning games. But Dave King was looking for more. King, a Coyotes assistant, is one of the foremost teachers in the sport, knew going beyond that threshold held limitless possibilities. For three-plus decades, as an NHL, Olympic and international coach, he has been subtly changing the way the game is taught and played. "He really influenced all of us to organize ourselves at practice, to have a game plan," said Ken Hitchcock, coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. "He saw the game intellectually way above us. We always thought the game was hard work and determination, and that would ..."

Phoenix Coyotes focus on hockey

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October 15

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"If not for the headlines coming out of the desert this summer, the Phoenix Coyotes' success in the opening two weeks of the season might be the talk of the NHL. Phoenix is 3-2 under new coach Dave Tippett, and when the Coyotes face the Blues at 9:05 tonight, they'll be coming off a 1-0 shootout win over San Jose. The victory garnered welcome attention for the hockey team, but it seems a conversation about the Coyotes can't take place without a mention of the franchise's bankruptcy case. The Coyotes' status in Glendale remains in limbo after a judge ruled earlier this month that neither a bid by the NHL nor billionaire Jim Balsillie was acceptable. Few who have followed the court ..."

Coyotes demote 2008 top pick Boedker

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October 15

Arizona Republic

"Coyotes forward Mikkel Boedker, the club's top draft pick in 2008, was sent down to the American Hockey League affiliate San Antonio Rampage. Boedker, 19, appeared in five games this season. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound forward recorded had 11 goals and 28 points in 78 games for the Coyotes in 2008-09. He finished tied for second among all NHL rookies with three winning goals. Boedker was taken with the eighth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft."

Like Desert Wanderers, Coyotes Endure Disarray

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October 12

New York Times

"After another discouraging day, the flesh-and-bones pillar of the property sat in a wood-paneled dressing room with his head bowed. The clock is ticking on this transplanted Arizonan, Shane Doan, and the other tenants of 9400 West Maryland Ave., who wake up most mornings to a brilliant sun partly eclipsed by clouds as black as ink. Like countless others in the metropolitan Phoenix area, one of the hardest hit in the country by the economic and housing crisis, they fear having to walk away from their dream home, for them a 77-bathroom, 88-luxury-loft palace on 75 acres of former farmland. Almost six years after the Coyotes moved into Jobing.Com Arena, the promise of stability and success ..."

Blue Jackets 2, Coyotes 0: Backup goalie Garon stellar in first start

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October 11

Columbus Dispatch

"After a summer spent twisting in bankruptcy court, the Phoenix Coyotes welcomed a sold-out crowd to Jobing.com Arena with their whiteout tradition, born years ago in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before the Jets moved to the desert. The Blue Jackets spoiled the party, however. On this night, whiteout could have been a compound word built from whitewash and shutout. Goaltender Mathieu Garon, in his first start with the Blue Jackets, made 36 saves for his 15th career shutout in a 2-0 victory before a crowd of 17,532. "Mathieu Garon was unbelievable," Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash said. "He was our best player and our best penalty killer. We were good. Everybody was committed. But most of the credit ..."

Jackets spoil Coyotes home opener

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October 11

Arizona Republic

"Playing a home opener creates enough pressure in itself. Combine that with a standing-room-only White Out usually reserved for playoffs in a game that carries special significance with a new coach and a franchise trying to rebuild a fan base, and that burden multiplies. The question was, how would the Coyotes, beat up in the local, national and Canadian media for several months, respond? The answer - not too good. Thanks to an inept Coyotes' power play - 0 for 7 - the Columbus Blue Jackets spoiled the festivities with 2-0 victory in front of 17,532 at Jobing.com Arena. Not only did the Coyotes fizzle twice with two-man advantages, they had a chance for redemption with 14:37 left in the ..."

Gretzky willingly sacrificed his legacy

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October 11

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"Knowing how it turned out, Wayne Gretzky said he "would do it again." Guess I was wrong about that correlation between wisdom and age. "Kings Ransom," an engaging documentary directed by Peter Berg that aired Tuesday night on ESPN, is a must-watch piece that digs deep into the biggest sale (sorry, Bambino) in North American sports history: Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a couple of other players, a few first-round picks and, oh yeah, $15 million on August 9, 1988. Berg's film details this history of the trade, which rattled to its core hockey-mad Edmonton, disgusted Canadians that viewed Gretzky as a national treasure, and opened the door for mass ..."

ackets won't dismiss Coyotes

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October 10

Columbus Dispatch

"While some in the NHL were left dumbfounded when the Phoenix Coyotes defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 on the road Wednesday, the Blue Jackets were hardly surprised. Even though the Coyotes are bankrupt financially, they have a wealth of young talent and a robust work ethic. Last season, when they finished 13th in the Western Conference, they swept the four-game season series against the Jackets. "Early on in the season, our problem against them was a lack of respect," coach Ken Hitchcock said yesterday. "It's as simple as that. We weren't in the right position mentally to play them, and we paid dearly for it." The first two games weren't close. The ..."

Coyotes set for home opener

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October 10

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes open the home portion of their season Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets with a lot on their plates. They will be trying to carry forward the momentum of two wins in their first three games in front of an expected sold-out "whiteout" crowd at Jobing.com Arena. Other motivating factors: • The team knows it should have gotten at least a point in a 2-1 loss at Buffalo on Thursday night. The Coyotes were fewer than four minutes away from that when a penalty led to the Sabres' game-winning goal. • The Coyotes might be without forward Petr Prucha, forced to leave Thursday's game early in the second period when the Sabres' Patrick Kaleta delivered a high hit against ..."

Myers takes big hit to set up big goal

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October 9

Buffalo News

"The biggest Buffalo Sabre took a big hit to create a big goal and get his first NHL point. Rookie defenseman Tyler Myers jumped an errant clearing pass and was totally cool under pressure as he fed Clarke MacArthur for the goal that pulled the Sabres even with the Phoenix Coyotes early in the third period Thursday night. Myers was drilled just after he passed the puck, from the front by one Phoenix player and from the rear by Coyotes captain Shane Doan. The 6-foot-8 Myers was briefly in a crumpled heap inside the Coyotes' zone before regaining his wind. "I noticed the D-man [Keith Yandle] trying to flip it out of the zone and he didn't quite get all of it," Myers said. "So I stepped in and ..."

Sabres' Kaleta makes Coyotes lose their cool

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October 9

Buffalo News

"Patrick Kaleta didn't score the game-winning goal. He wasn't on the ice when it went in the net. His entire stat line was unremarkable. But make no mistake, Kaleta was influential in the Sabres earning their first victory of the season Thursday. The Sabres beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-1, in an emotional game that started as anything but. The teams played a solid, incident-free first period in HSBC Arena. There were 21 shots, no goals and no penalties, setting the groundwork for the type of outing in which goaltending or a timely tally would be the story. Then Kaleta stepped in. He laid out the Coyotes' Petr Prucha with an early Hit of the Year candidate just 32 seconds into the second ..."

Coyotes icing their wounds

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October 9

Toronto Sun

"There was no way Shane Doan was being called to the stand in the infamous bankruptcy court of Judge Redfield T. Baum. So the Phoenix Coyotes captain is left to make his case the only way he has known through his previous 13 NHL seasons. "Losing hockey doesn't sell anywhere," Doan said yesterday at HSBC Arena prior to his team's 2-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. "If you go seven years like we've done without making the playoffs, it's going to challenge any fan base." His may be a simplistic hockey player's view, but Doan believes winning will make some of the ugliness go away. The bankruptcy. The fan indifference. The ridicule. And the judge's name no one in hockey wants to hear again. ..."

Coyotes recall Lessard from San Antonio

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October 8

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes recalled forward Francis Lessard from San Antonio. Lessard served the first of his three-game suspension issued by the NHL, the result of a game misconduct penalty in a Sept. 18 preseason game versus Anaheim. His suspension also included the Coyotes' final two preseason games."

Sabres, Coyotes share rare bond of bankruptcy

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October 8

Buffalo News

"Henrik Tallinder was a typical rookie, happy to be in the NHL and possessing a mind filled with questions. The best place to go for answers was to the veterans, but the defenseman noticed they were occasionally preoccupied. Even a 23-year-old newcomer could tell why. Mixed in with power-play meetings were bankruptcy updates. In addition to game plans, the 2002-03 Buffalo Sabres had to discuss which prospective owner might buy the team. Some guys had their minds split on faceoffs and court dates, wondering whether a judge would permit their bonuses to be paid. It certainly wasn't how Tallinder had pictured professional sports, but it's how things were on the bankrupt Sabres team being run ..."

Phoenix rises to occasion, scores 2 power-play goals against Johnson

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October 8

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"If the Penguins played football -- and there had to be times last night when they wished they did -- this would have been described as a trap game. They were matched against a low-profile opponent they never see more than once a year, if that, just 24 hours before what figures to be a high-intensity collision with a bitter rival. And even though the Penguins, pretty much to a man, insisted they were not looking past Phoenix in what became a 3-0 loss to the Coyotes at Mellon Arena, there was not much evidence to back them up. The Penguins played without their customary discipline, focus and intensity for much of the evening. They were short-handed no fewer than nine times, with at least ..."

Coyotes News