NHL Playoff

One Team A Week.....

The NHL Arena has come up with another bang on idea. Each week we want to reach out to one team's fans so their voices can be heard more loudly. This week...it is the Phoenix Coyotes that gets their time in the sun. Some of our arena members have been to Phoenix before and have been to the arena. These are their stories.

The Phoenix Coyotes are a much improved team this season. At 33-28-5..they stand just five points out of a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference. Captain Shane Doan leads the team with 63 points and waiver acquisition Ilya Bryzgalov has a very solid 22-16-4 with a 2.35 GAA and .924 save percentage and 2 shutouts. Bryzgalov has kept Phoenix in most games and has been the #1 goalie that Wayne Gretzky desperately needed.

The only problem now is the consistency...the Coyotes are in a mad dash to make the playoffs but going 5-4-1 in their last ten doesn't help matters. Gretzky realizes the urgency and has called out Peter Mueller and rightfully so. I think since the trade that send Sjostrom to the Rangers...Mueller has clearly not been the same player. Sometimes team chemistry gets ruffled a bit and it takes time to get it back.

Look at the team that comes into town tonight...the Dallas Stars..they are 13-3 in their last 16 and flying while the Yotes are learning how to fly. Gretzky might be able to learn a thing or two tonight from the Stars. Both York and Carcillo are out tonight so look for Gretzky to find different ways to inject energy into the team tonight. I wanted to thank Paul from One Fan's Perspective for all his help.

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