Whoa! Tape-to-tape, crisp, hard passes (that were actually caught by the recipient), quality shots (that actually caused the goalie to move), an-honest-to-God POWER PLAY GOAL, some Czechs not named Michalek or Hanzal (amazing what happens when forecheck and back check are in the lineup). Who were those masked men? The Coyotes? Really? They’re back?
Yep the home team Coyotes were back. Not especially pretty, but at least everyone was present and giving an effort. I know I missed them greatly.
Best save of the night – Bryzzie on Hale. Oy! Thank goodness Breezer is a nice guy…if it was me, I’da had some nasty words to say to the #6 defenseman after THAT little faux pas.
Best shot of the night – damn… how do you choose between an Olli Jokinen going to the net, second effort, back hand, roll the goalie marker and a David Hale shot-with-authority-and-had-eyes tipped by Turris GWG? Especially when you have a Mueller induced, second effort PP goal in the middle clamoring for consideration. You don’t choose, you just enjoy.
Best line of the night – the Kids line. Hard to argue with Mueller-Boedker-Turris crossing the neutral w/ speed and intent all night. Showing defensive responsibility and producing the GWG.
Favorite line of the night – the Bad Boy Patrol. Who the hell wants to face Fridgie, Carci and Murray? The pissed (DC and Fridge) and the hungry (Murray, tryin to stick w/ the main club this time) were lookin for a place to be ugly. No one obliged them but there were heads swivelin all night.
Blind ref moment of the night – normally I should be able to just pick one, any one, but last night the refs missed not only repeated head shots to the back of KTs helmet but the high stick that sent Carcillo to the ice bleeding from the mouth again (speculation is, that the dentist will be seeing DC again today about another hole where a tooth should be). Danny went ballistic at the bench and down the hall with the non call. (at least he took it off the ice and didn’t pull a Grabovski)
Ouch moment of the night – Tiki takin a block on the hand. Knew it was a problem as soon as it hit but young Tikhnov finished his shift b4 heading off the ice and didn’t return for the rest of the game (heard definitively 2 bones in the wrist that are broken and he’s now on a week-to-week assessment)
I feel like NHL stats are written by the Chinese Oylympic guys…fudgin player physical descriptions has reached an all time high… St. Louis was barely taller than the ice trash can and he’s listed at 5’9″! Much like KT’s 180lbs I fear St Louis’ height is greatly exaggerated.
Good to see… DMo with 5 blocked shots, even on the night and 2 sogs. Our Jokinen was better than their Jokinen.Discipline was back only 2 PIMs in this one, giving our PKers a lil respite.
Scary to see… Z w/ another big blunder (my boy just doesn’t make very many mistakes) and 3 glaring ones in consecutive games worry me that he’s gettin tired or all those blocks have partially injured him in some way that he’s just playing through.
All in all a pretty damn good night and the Yotes didn’t get deflated after the Lightning drew first blood. The boys were back in synch and most everything is good in my world.
~Pics from Bleedin Teal in AZ~ Awesome work as always.