Phoenix Coyotes News: Pro Sports Daily

February 10

Calgary Sun

"That elusive spot in the top eight was there for the taking. The Calgary Flames once again couldn't grab hold of it. With a chance to move into the Western Conference's top eight for the first time this season, the Flames dropped a 2-1 overtime game to the Phoenix Coyotes Thursday night. While Mikael Backlund was in the penalty box for tripping, Blair Jones was rendered immobile after blocking a shot with his foot and Coyotes captain Shane Doan ripped a shot past rookie goalie Leland Irving for the winner before the Jobing.com Arena crowd of 10,048."

Flames tripped up in 2-1 overtime loss to Coyotes

February 10

Calgary Herald

"On a scorching hot day in the desert, the Calgary Flames could finally see that coveted playoff position just over the ridge. With a victory over the Phoenix Coyotes (thanks to a Vancouver Canucks win over the Minnesota Wild), the Flames could claim sole possession of the eighth-and –final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Flames had resided outside the top-eight for 333 days of mediocrity dating back to March 18, 2011. Make it 334. The Flames fell 2-1 in overtime to the Phoenix Coyotes thanks in no small part to a Mikael Backlund tripping penalty in the offensive zone. That put Phoenix on a 4-on-3."

Dave Tippett: 'A great time of year' for the Coyotes

February 10

Arizona Republic

"A team's bid to make the playoffs can hinge on an errant pass, a soft goal or a bad penalty. That adds up to pressure, but that's no reason to put up "Don't Laugh" or "No Fun Allowed" signs. The Coyotes have begun a move toward the top eight of the Western Conference, and coach Dave Tippett says the combination of pressure and fun makes it "a great time of year." "You start to do a lot more scoreboard-watching," Tippett said. "Obviously you want to get your team up and playing the best it can for a stretch run here, and we're in a stretch of games where we're playing against teams that are right there in the standings with us, so an exciting time. "We have to continue to play well, and the"

Ex-Phoenix Coyotes player part of group interested in buying team

February 10

Arizona Republic

"The former assistant captain of the Phoenix Coyotes says he's now part of a group interested in buying the team. Retired center Jeremy "J.R." Roenick said he was approached weeks ago by ex-San Jose Sharks Chief Executive Officer Greg Jamison, who has expressed interest in the team. Roenick has since asked business associates if they would also be interested. Roenick, a Scottsdale resident, said he aims for deal that includes the struggling Westgate City Center, which developers built a decade ago in hopes of drawing crowds with sports, shopping and entertainment."

Jeremy Roenick the 'fire-starter' for Phoenix Coyotes

February 10

Arizona Republic

"The NHL is stocked with robots. Their noses are broken, their teeth are capped and their mouths are clenched in states of perpetual humility. Every so often, the assembly line stops, and out pops a rare exception. It happened in Phoenix in 1996, when the newly born Coyotes traded one of their automatons (Alexei Zhamnov) for Jeremy Roenick. He was a brash young star from Chicago, a slick-skating loudmouth who came to the Valley and made people care about hockey. Some 16 years later, he remains proof that the sport can work in the desert. "Hockey is entertainment," Roenick said. "And I wanted to give people their money's worth. I didn't buy into the NHL mentality. I didn't want to be one of"

Coyotes beat Flames in overtime for fourth straight win

February 10

Arizona Republic

"Games that could be best described as haphazard are not much fun for players or coaches. What made it tolerable for the Coyotes was a victory, and at this stage of the season, no matter how the result is achieved, the points are invaluable for a team trying to ensure itself a playoff spot. Shane Doan's power-play goal in overtime gave the Coyotes their fourth win a row, 2-1 over the Calgary Flames in front of 10,048 at Jobing.com Arena on Thursday night. "This is what it's going to be right here," coach Dave Tippett said. "You got to find ways to get points. I thought tonight's game was a sloppy game, there were pucks bouncing all over the place. "There were calls that were made, there"

Cut face limits Tanguay against Coyotes

February 10

Calgary Sun

"In the immediate moments afterwards, it looked honey badger nasty. Midway through the first period, Calgary Flames left winger Alex Tanguay was hit in the face by the puck when Jarome Iginla's pass attempt ricocheted off a defender's stick. The trail of blood went all the way from the front of the Coyotes net to the team's bench, left behind as Tanguay went to the dressing room. With the way the injury bug has been chomping on Flames players this season — every time one player returns, it seems another goes down — it could have been horrific. After all, when Tanguay was on the shelf for 15 games due to a neck injury, Calgary's offence, especially on the powerplay, took a beating."

Increased focus key factor during Phoenix Coyotes' hot streak

February 9

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes, picking up steam at a crucial point in their season, will be trying to win a season-high fourth game in a row, and increased focus has been a key factor. "I think we're playing well as a group right now," coach Dave Tippett said. "We've got good energy; our players are competing very hard. There's a lot of little details in the game that we've been very strong in. San Jose and Detroit games, we had two good games at home, gave us some momentum." The Coyotes followed that with a 4-1 win in Dallas on Wednesday night that propelled them into an eighth-place tie in the Western Conference."

Notes and quotes from 4-1 loss to Phoenix

February 8

Dallas Morning News

"This one stings the Stars. _ Phoenix played on Monday in Glendale, beat Detroit, flew Monday night and then came into AAC and simply outworked Dallas. This gives the Coyotes three wins (San Jose, Detroit, Dallas) in four nights and pushes them ahead of the Stars in the standings. Phoenix is now 25-21-8 (58 points), while Dallas is 27-22-2 (56 points). Dallas can make up that difference with its two games in hand, but it also could have made a big statement and pushed the Coyotes down the ladder."

Coyotes' Lauri Korpikoski flourishing as of late

February 7

Arizona Republic

"He's all in. That's the best way to describe Coyotes forward Lauri Korpikoski, who has eight points in his past eight games, including two goals in Saturday's game against the San Jose Sharks. His underlying value comes from playing in all situations. "Probably the greatest thing about Korpy is every day he's striving to get better," coach Dave Tippett said. "He wants to be a top NHL player, and he has all the capabilities of doing that, and he continues to grow with our group. "He's gone from two years ago we weren't sure what we had to a very good player that impacts a lot of parts of the game.""

Coyotes topple NHL-leading Red Wings in Glendale

February 7

Arizona Republic

"No one accuses the Coyotes of being a conventional team. Going against the grain has been their calling card since Dave Tippett took over as coach three seasons ago. And Monday night, the Coyotes solidified that concept against the Detroit Red Wings, the NHL's points leader and their conqueror the past two seasons in the playoffs. The Coyotes scored a short-handed goal and ended their power-play woes, registering a 3-1 win in front of 12,687 at Jobing.com Arena."

Red Wings falter on offense, finish trip with loss to Coyotes

February 7

Detroit News

"The Red Wings are finally coming home, but they'll do so in a lousy mood. They ended a five-game trip and two-month stretch of being mostly away from Joe Louis Arena Monday with a 3-1 loss in Phoenix. The Wings were 2-1-1 during this post All-Star Game four-game trip. But since Dec. 2, they've been on the road for 21 of 31 games, going 10-10-1 away from Joe Louis Arena. Now, 18 of their final 28 games are at home, at the friendly surroundings of JLA, where they've won 17 consecutive games. It sets up nicely for the Wings."

Coyotes goalie Mike Smith faces another test

February 6

Arizona Republic

"Mike Smith cleared one hurdle, and a bigger one awaits. The Coyotes goaltender got the kind of performance he needed Saturday night, responding from a game in which he allowed three goals in less than seven minutes to grab a win over San Jose, the leader in the Pacific Division. The two teams will meet three more times this season, and the Coyotes' success could be critical for their playoff hopes. But Smith, who had 32 saves against the Sharks, isn't looking back or too far ahead. AdTech Ad His challenge Monday is even tougher. The Coyotes, who have to play their best hockey of the season in the final 30 games to make the playoffs, host the Detroit Red Wings, who lead the NHL in points."

Coyotes regroup, get big win over Sharks at home

February 5

Arizona Republic

"Call it lucky. The Coyotes don't care. They've had enough bad luck this season, and any semblance of a reversal of fortune is welcomed. The Coyotes, desperate for a win, scored a 5-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night in front of 12,979 at Jobing.com Arena. It was a keynote victory over the Pacific Division leaders for a team trying to battle its way into the playoffs with 30 games remaining. In their previous outing, a 4-1 loss, two hotly-contested calls went against his team, and coach Dave Tippett said getting some breaks was the biggest difference in the two nights. "The puck bounced our way a little bit," he said. "I thought we competed hard. I thought we did some"

Idea of coach's challenge gains advocates

February 5

Arizona Republic

"Two hotly disputed calls -- which were wrong, according to instant replays -- might have cost the Coyotes two points last week. In another game, an apparently malfunctioning clock started late, and the Los Angeles Kings stole two points by scoring with four-tenths of a second remaining to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets. And being that the Coyotes and Kings are in the same division and struggling to reach the top eight in the Western Conference, coach Dave Tippett's team suffered a double-whammy. In the Coyotes' case, Martin Hanzal was called for goaltender interference that negated a goal by Ray Whitney, then an offsides against the Anaheim Ducks was not called, and they scored a few"

Coyotes' supporting cast starting to come up big

February 5

Arizona Republic

"Among the handful of commonalities between the juggernauts of the NHL is one facet that the Coyotes have tirelessly tried to improve on in recent years: Scoring and, perhaps more importantly, scoring by committee. The top tier of contributors has delivered as expected. Forwards Ray Whitney, Radim Vrbata and Shane Doan are all on pace to eclipse the 20-goal mark, giving the Coyotes three 20-goal scorers for the first time in four years. But what's more encouraging is the emergence of the supporting cast, which had an influential part in Saturday's 5-3 win against the San Jose Sharks at Jobing.com Arena. "When you see that happen with our team, we usually have a good chance of winning,""

Coyotes look to re-establish identity beginning with game vs. San Jose Sharks

February 4

Arizona Republic

"The thought running through the minds of the Coyotes during a six-week stretch that had them traveling 28,000 miles to play 17 of 25 of games was, "Are we ever going to get time to practice?' Recently, the question was, "When are we ever going to play another game?" With the five-day All-Star Game break, followed by a Tuesday night game and then three more days off, the Coyotes are more than ready to return to the ice. Starting Saturday night against San Jose, the leader in the Pacific Division, they will try to take a step in re-establishing their identity and making a playoff push with 31 games remaining. "We need a game; we've had too much practice," coach Dave Tippett said half in"

Coyotes need consistency to get back in playoff race

February 3

Arizona Republic

"Consistency is a word coaches and players often toss around when pinpointing reasons for success and failure. It's seldom a misnomer, and for the Coyotes it is a stark example of why they are struggling to get back into the playoff picture. In the past two seasons, in which they compiled 107 and 99 points, respectively, to earn postseason spots, the Coyotes put together win streaks of nine and seven games. This time around, they have won three in a row only one time. On the points scale, after 51 games, they have 52 points, 11 fewer than in 2009-10, and seven points off their pace from a season ago."

Phoenix Coyotes regroup after tough loss

February 2

Arizona Republic

"The trick to being angry and effective at the same time is not to overtaken by emotion, and Shane Doan knows it's a fine line. After a frustrating loss Tuesday night to the Anaheim Ducks, a game in which two crucial calls went against them, the Coyotes now have to regroup before facing the San Jose Sharks, one of the league's elite teams, on Saturday. "I think there's a little bit of anger and just recognizing we have to be better," Doan said. "(Tuesday's game) wasn't acceptable. You lose 4-1, it's not acceptable; you've got to find ways to score goals and contribute offensively, and we need guys to step up.""

Shero, Penguins grab center O'Reilly off waivers from Phoenix

February 2

Pittsburgh Tribune Review

"The Penguins claimed center Cal O'Reilly off waivers from Phoenix on Wednesday. General manager Ray Shero was Nashville's assistant general manager when the Predators selected O'Reilly in the fifth round of the 2005 NHL Draft. In 107 NHL games, the 25-year-old O'Reilly has 13 goals and 40 points. O'Reilly was not with the Penguins before Wednesday night's game but was expected to join the team later in the evening. The Penguins like the depth he could provide at center, especially with Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal out of the lineup."

Goalie Mike Smith keeping Phoenix Coyotes in mix

February 1

Arizona Republic

"One of the bigger stretches of games in Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith's career is looming. With four more starts, he will set a career high for games played in a season (43). The play of Smith, who signed as a free agent in the off-season after spending three-plus seasons with Tampa Bay, is one of the big reasons the Coyotes remain in a position to challenge for playoff spot. Smith missed six games this season because of a groin injury, and the five-day All-Star break came at a good time for him. "He's established himself as our No. 1 goaltender, and any team that's in a stretch drive or pushing to make the playoffs, you're going to rely on that guy," coach Dave Tippett said. "He's no"

Phoenix Coyotes non-goal vs. Anaheim Ducks changed complexion of game

February 1

Arizona Republic

"One play usually shouldn't dictate the outcome of a game. A hard-fought sometimes 60-plus minutes of hockey typically has a multitude of pieces that ultimately sync together to form a victory or a loss. So while the Coyotes weren't blaming an early third-period goal that was waved off as the sole reason for their 4-1 demise to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday at Jobing.com Arena, the call was a crippling blow. "The refs make the call because of what they see," captain Shane Doan said. "If you see it differently, it doesn't really matter. They're the ones that make the call. I've seen that goal go in and count every single time this year it seems. Maybe he saw it differently.""

Phoenix Coyotes stumble after break against Anaheim Ducks

February 1

Arizona Republic

"What started as the perfect scenario for a team desperate for points evaporated into a head-scratching and bitter defeat for the Coyotes on Tuesday night. Goaltender Mike Smith was on top of his game in the first period, and the Coyotes, with a 1-0 lead, looked to be en route to the type of effort they needed to get moving in the right direction after the All-Star break. The Anaheim Ducks, spurred by center Andrew Cogliano, had other ideas, and the Coyotes dropped a 4-1 decision in front of 10,579 at Jobing.com Arena. Cogliano, who entered the game with eight goals, burned Smith three times in 6:51 of the second period to record his first career hat trick, a natural, to lead the Ducks."

Coyotes rejuvenated for second half of NHL season

January 31

Arizona Republic

"Every team welcomed the five-day NHL All-Star break, but the Coyotes probably embraced it more than any other. "In our situation, we needed the break bad," coach Dave Tippett said. "Our group has been exhausted for a couple of weeks. "I think within a six-week period, we were 28,000 miles traveled, which is unheard of in the league. I can't ever remember a stretch like this." With that odyssey behind them, the Coyotes conclude the season with 18 of 32 games on home ice, including five of their next six -- a crucial juncture as they try to climb the standings in the Western Conference. That quest will start Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks."

Back to the real NHL games

January 30

Ottawa Sun

columnist Chris Stevenson

"The days at the beach, as tweeted by Capitals defenceman Mike Green from the Cayman Islands, are over. The neon tans from Las Vegas will now start to fade. The NHL's feel-good weekend here — a resounding success which revolved around the emotional outpouring between Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson and Senators fans — now becomes a fond memory. Ahead is a 30-game sausage grinder that is the rest of the NHL season. "You need the break whether you're here or somewhere else doing something different. This is a part of the season the guys really look forward to, just to recharge the battery," said Maple Leafs winger Joffrey Lupul. "When you get back from this break, you're re-energized and you"

Chara's stars beat hometown hero Alfredsson

January 30

Ottawa Sun

"On his big day, Daniel Alfredsson surrounded himself with Swedes. But it was a bunch of Slovak buddies, led by New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik, who drove Team Chara to a 12-9 victory over Team Alfredsson in front of 20,510 in the 57th NHL all-star game Sunday at Scotiabank Place. While former Senators defenceman Zdeno Chara scored the third-period winner, it was Gaborik, voted the game MVP, who led his club to victory with a hat trick and four-point effort as Team Chara walked away with the bragging rights. "You could see the guys wanted to win," said Chara when asked if he gave his team any instructions with the score tied 6-6 going into the third period. "I didn't have to say a"

Glendale-Goldwater legal fight over Coyotes continues

January 29

Arizona Republic

"Glendale and the Goldwater Institute have bickered over public records related to Phoenix Coyotes negotiations for more than two years, lobbing accusations at one another as the search for a team owner drags on. Goldwater argues that Glendale may have withheld some documents while providing stacks of irrelevant ones. The Phoenix-based conservative watchdog group says Glendale residents have the right to know whether the deal was handled correctly. Glendale officials say that they have not withheld records and that the Goldwater group has taxed city resources and inserted itself into the city's troubled search for a Coyotes buyer. The two sides have become so pugnacious that a"

Coyotes have 32 games to improve for postseason berth

January 29

Arizona Republic

"As the Coyotes get ready to return to the ice after the All-Star break to play five of their next six games at home, there are several areas that need shoring up. And with only 32 games remaining -- all but one against Western Conference teams -- repeating earlier mistakes would severely compromise their bid for a third consecutive postseason berth. The one thing General Manager Don Maloney will not do is rush into a deal, and he quickly dismisses speculation of picking up a "rental player." "It's too soon," he said. "I still feel, with our schedule, and even our health, we can get back in the race. I feel like we're just on the periphery right now, and the next couple weeks are going to"

Coyotes happy with farm system despite lacking forward

January 28

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes' top five prospects do not include a forward, and while their elusive search for a high scorer who could rejuvenate the offense continues, General Manager Don Maloney likes how the farm system is shaping up. "We have to work to bring in more quality prospects in the forward position," Maloney said. "But overall, to build a winner, the prevailing thought is to start with the goaltending and moving forward." Changes were made in the Coyotes' scouting system, and there will be shift in focus. "We are looking much harder at college free agents this year," Maloney said. "(Assistant General Manager Brad Treliving) is really directing that approach, so we're searching to try and add"

Keith Yandle goes in 11th round of NHL All-Star draft

January 27

Arizona Republic

"Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle, who will appear in his second NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, was chosen in the 11th round of the draft Thursday night in Gatineau, Quebec by team captain Daniel Alfredsson of the Senators. Yandle said he was not surprised that he was chosen about midway through the draft. "I knew I wasn't going to get picked first, and being a defenseman, I knew I wasn't going to go last," he said. Yandle will join a team that includes the NHL's leading goal-scorer, Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and one of the league's top defenseman, Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators. The three also were teammates at last season's game. "Playing with them again will be"

Who will win? Breaking down All-Star teams

January 27

NHL.com

"The draft is over, the rosters set for the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game. We now know who will be wearing the white jerseys for Team Alfredsson and the blue jerseys to represent Team Chara. Now it's time to take a look at the rosters and break them down by position. Look for our prediction at the end. FORWARDS Datsyuk and Malkin on the same team is a scary proposition for the opposition. They may be the two most skilled players in the NHL right now. As Chara said, you can put them on the same line and they can be unstoppable, or you can put them on separate lines and they'll still be dominant and "make the line." Team Alfredsson has a lot of talent, but it doesn't have two"

Disallowed goal leads to Sens loss

January 25

Ottawa Sun

"Another controversial call helped do in the Senators in on Tuesday. Trailing the Coyotes 3-2 with 8:34 left in regulation time, Nick Foligno burst around Phoenix defenceman Keith Yandle to seemingly set up Daniel Alfredsson for the tying goal. But referee Dan O'Halloran waved it off and gave Foligno a goaltender interference penalty, even though it looked like 'tender Mike Smith caused the collision by sticking out his arm as Foligno went through the top of his crease. "I thought he came out to make the pokecheck and I don't really know how else I'm supposed to avoid that kind of a play," said Foligno, who was getting pressure from behind by Yandle. "It is what it is. They make the call"

Phoenix Coyotes narrow losses are taking toll

January 25

Arizona Republic

"Losing close games, including those that were seconds away from being victories, has taken a toll on the Coyotes, and reversing that trend is just one of the challenges facing them after the All-Star break. "We have to continue to get better; there's a bunch of things," coach Dave Tippett said. "Our home record, you'd certainly like to improve that. Our schedule's in our favor that way -- that if we play well at home we can push ourselves right back in a playoff spot. "The other thing, is we've lost too many close games this year. We've given away a lot of those early in the year, those goals at the end of the games, things like that, those are points you have to have. We let some get away"

Phoenix Coyotes snap 3-game skid going into All-Star break

January 25

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes' mantra was a recurring one: end this home-ice funk and go into the All-Star break on a winning note. Twice holding two-goal margins, only to see them sliced to one, the Coyotes hung on to defeat the Ottawa Senators 3-2 on Tuesday night at Jobing.com Arena. The win broke a three-game losing streak and finally got their home record over .500 (10-9-4). And coach Dave Tippett would be the first to point out that nothing came easy in this one. "It was a sloppy game, but we found a way to get points," he said. "We'll put those points in the bank, and I told the players everybody needs a break. The last two months have been as grueling a schedule as I've seen in a long time in the"

Phoenix Coyotes pre-break game 'as big as any'

January 24

Arizona Republic

"Ray Whitney was not looking for silver linings as he gave an assessment of the importance of the Coyotes' immediate future. The Coyotes, who have lost three in a row and are 2-4-4 in their past 10 games, host Ottawa Tuesday night, a surging club that has won seven of its past 10. After the All-Star break, the Coyotes play five of six at Jobing.com Arena. "Right now, they all mean a lot," Whitney said. "We're going the wrong direction. While everybody's going north, we're going south. "So every game right now is that stupid cliche, it's the biggest of the year. It's just at that point now that there's so many teams going the right way, and we're stumbling and not, so it's big for us.""

Phoenix Coyotes players connect with 'loyal' fan base

January 23

Arizona Republic

"Hockey fans had the chance to meet the men behind the masks at the Coyotes Carnival on Sunday afternoon at Jobing.com Arena. Coyotes players took a break from the ice as fans brought items to be autographed and smiles to be photographed. The carnival raised money for Coyotes Charities, a collection of hundreds of Valley children's organizations."

Coyotes defensemen play extended minutes in loss to Tampa Bay Lightning

January 22

Arizona Republic

"Defenseman Derek Morris played less than two minutes Saturday night before leaving the game with a lower-body injury, putting an added burden on a blue line already missing another veteran in Adrian Aucoin. In his absence, Oliver Ekman-Larsson played a career-high 30-plus minutes, with Michal Rozsival getting 28 minutes of ice time and Keith Yandle more than 24. Coach Dave Tippett said going with five defensemen was not the only problem in the 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. "It's five defensemen, and it's chasing the game also," he said. "You want your 'D' up on the play every time you got a chance, so that can get taxing in a hurry on them. "I thought Yandle, Ekman-Larsson did a"

Sidelined David Schlemko elevated his game for Phoenix Coyotes

January 22

Arizona Republic

"Every step of his way through the ranks until he made his mark as an NHL player, defenseman David Schlemko never failed to impress -- and defy the odds. As one of the few players to use the Central Hockey League as a springboard, Schlemko proved to be a vital part of the Coyotes' blue line. Now he has another battle to wage. Schlemko had surgery on his right foot 10 days ago, and General Manager Don Maloney said it's "for all intents and purposes, a season-ending injury, (and) he'll make a full recovery." Maloney said Schlemko took major strides this season, citing his intelligence, puck movement and competitive level. "We miss him, but on the other hand, he's still very young and we're"

Coyotes can't complete late rally vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

January 22

Arizona Republic

"If there is one "can't-do" for the Coyotes, it's this: Don't leave the ice trailing after the first period. During another season in which they are walking a thin line between winning and losing, the Coyotes rely on getting a lead and sticking to a systematic offense and a stingy defense to produce results. The Coyotes fell behind by three goals, then mounted a furious rally, but they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Tampa Bay Lighting on Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena. The Coyotes have an 0-13 record when falling behind after one period. Coach Dave Tippett pointed to the way the team lost, which added to the frustration of another loss on home ice. "It's the number of scoring chances we"

Dwayne Roloson lifts Tampa Bay Lightning past Phoenix Coyotes 4-3

January 22

St. Petersburg Times

"Some things never change when it comes to Lightning goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Even after his 33 saves in a 4-3 victory over the Coyotes on Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena, even after his first win since Nov. 17, Roloson was low-key as ever. "It's always nice to win games," he said. Nice? How about imperative? Roloson needed to re-establish himself after a 0-6-1 stretch in 11 games. So to stand up to a Coyotes team that had a 36-21 shot advantage over a Tampa Bay squad playing its second of back-to-back road games was a huge step forward. "On a back-to-back, you need your goalie to play great because it's an unfair fight," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "Roli," center Steven Stamkos"

Gilbert Brule hoping change of scenery pays off

January 21

Arizona Republic

"When little boys on backyard rinks dream of a career in the NHL, they imagine slipping on a sweater in the first round of the draft, scoring goals at will and having their mug plastered on the latest hockey video game. But the journey to the NHL rarely follows the imagination of a child. "I don't think it's ever what you envisioned," Coyotes center Gilbert Brule said. It definitely wasn't for Brule. The 25-year-old did, however, achieved the first milestone by getting selected sixth overall in 2005. But after that, nothing in Brule's career went according to plan. A score of injuries, an inconsistent spot in the lineup and a lack of confidence have haunted Brule. He's hoping a desert"

Lightning to face its former goalie, Mike Smith

January 21

St. Petersburg Times

"It probably goes without saying, but Coyotes G Mike Smith said it anyway. "Obviously," he said of tonight's game with the Lightning, "I've had this date marked on my calendar for a while." Smith in July signed a two-year, $4 million deal with Phoenix, ending his tumultuous four-year career with Tampa Bay. That stretch included stellar play, several serious injuries, last season's demotion to AHL Norfolk and his return to form, especially during the playoffs, when he went 1-1 in three games — including a start in Game 5 of the East final against the Bruins — with a 1.00 goals-against average and .958 save percentage. "I would have liked to stay in Tampa," Smith said Friday by phone from"

Martin Hanzal 'pumped' about his return

January 20

Arizona Republic

"Sleep was something that Martin Hanzal might have thought he would want the night before he returned to the Coyotes lineup after missing 12 games with concurrent injuries. How quickly plans change. Hanzal flew back from Anaheim on Wednesday morning, and his wife, Lenka, gave birth to Martin Jr. later in the day. "It was amazing," Hanzal said. "My first baby, and it was awesome. I wasn't thinking about hockey, and now I just woke up (Thursday morning) and realized it's my job. I've got to come back ... see them after the game." Hanzal joked before the game that it was a "dream come true" to begin his comeback against the Red Wings. "It's tough, but I actually like playing against the Wings"

Coyotes fall to Detroit Red Wings in shootout

January 20

Arizona Republic

"Various factors were in play for the Coyotes against the Red Wings. Could they, specifically goaltender Mike Smith, bounce back from a lopsided loss the night before? Would they find a way to slow the potent Red Wings offense? Could they continue to be successful on home ice, where they had scored 11 goals in their two previous games? And against a highly skilled cast in red and white, would someone from the blue-collar Coyotes step up in crunch time? The Coyotes were able to answer yes to most of those questions, and they salvaged a point in a 3-2 shootout loss in front of 15,067 at Jobing.com Arena on Thursday night. Todd Bertuzzi made a spin move to get the puck past Smith in the third"

Detroit 3, Phoenix 2 (SO): Red Wings' Todd Bertuzzi spins for the win

January 20

Detroit Free Press

"The Red Wings could make things easier on themselves if they figure out how to turn all of their talent into a successful power play. Barring that, they used a productive performance from their top line of Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen and Todd Bertuzzi to take the Coyotes to a shoot-out Thursday, stretching a second straight road game past regulation. Bertuzzi came through in the third round of the shoot-out, scoring on a spin-around backhand to give Detroit a 3-2 victory at Jobing.com Arena."

Todd Bertuzzi's shootout spin-o-rama gives Red Wings victory

January 20

Detroit News

"A team that once inexplicably struggled in shootouts, the Red Wings are now unbeatable in them. Todd Bertuzzi scored on a spin move in the third round, the only goal in the shootout, giving the Wings a 3-2 victory Thursday over the Phoenix Coyotes. The Wings are 4-0 in shoot-outs this season (31-33 franchise all-time record). "We should win a majority of ours (shootout games)," said Bertuzzi, who continued his recent fine play. "We have (Pavel) Datsyuk, (Jiri) Hudler, (Henrik) Zetterberg, guys who can score.""

Phoenix Coyotes hoping to seize moment during homestand

January 19

Arizona Republic

"The Coyotes' locker room, before the beast known as post-practice stench sets in, is a pleasant place. On this day, Shane Doan is playfully mocking the ego of newly named All-Star Keith Yandle. "Guys keep coming up to me, 'What are we going to do with him?'" Doan mused. "He doesn't get along with one guy in the room. Nobody likes him." New center Gilbert Brule is entertaining a reporter by sharing details of his unlikely May meeting, when he picked up a hitchhiker near his West Vancouver home who happened to be U2 frontman Bono. "I'm like 'What are you doing out here?'" Brule said. "And I'm thinking to myself, 'You can't afford a cab?'""

Phoenix Coyotes get routed by Anaheim Ducks on road

January 19

Arizona Republic

"The Anaheim Ducks' scoring slump is over. Now they are netting goals in bunches. Francois Beauchemin tied a career high with two goals, Jonas Hiller stopped 25 shots, and the Ducks beat the Phoenix Coyotes 6-2 on Wednesday night. The Ducks are 6-0-1 in their past seven games, matching the club's longest point streak since November 2010. Anaheim has scored 31 times during its current run, averaging 4.42 per game. "There were times this year that we would have taken half of those and been happy," Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said of the six goals."

Francois Beauchemin leads Ducks past Coyotes, 6-2

January 19

Los Angeles Times

"Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau was talking about the long-standing difficulty of playing that first game at home after an intense stretch on the road in Canada. He stopped and wanted to make it abundantly clear that he was not finding fault, not a bit, after the Ducks defeated the Phoenix Coyotes, 6-2, on Wednesday night at Honda Center. Defenseman Francois Beauchemin scored twice and added an assist. "I'm not complaining at all," Boudreau said. "We scored six goals. There's times this year we would have taken half of that and been happy.""