These Coyotes are no longer dogs
Vancouver has respect for a Phoenix team on the rise
Not so long ago, a visit by the Phoenix Coyotes meant an automatic two points for the Vancouver Canucks.
But times have changed. These aren't your old Coyotes, who had gone seven seasons without a playoff appearance.
The Coyotes have already clinched a post-season berth and still have an outside chance of gaining the No. 1 playoff seed in the NHL's Western Conference.
Under new coach Dave Tippett, Phoenix finds itself in select company as one of only three NHL teams to have cracked the 100-point mark this season.
The Canucks insist they realize the Coyotes are no longer a team that can be taken lightly.
"They're well coached, that's the No. 1 thing," says Canuck winger Daniel Sedin. "They don't make a lot of mistakes, you have to work for every scoring chance you get out there. You don't get many 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 rushes because they always have five guys back. That helps the goalie, too ? he has been unbelievable, but he is really getting help from his teammates."
That goalie is Ilya Bryzgalov, who enters tonight's game (7 p.m., Sportsnet, Team 1040) tied for second in the NHL with 40 wins. He boasts a stingy 2.28 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.
The Coyotes clearly are the surprise team of the NHL this season.
"Obviously, nobody thought they would be over 100 points at this time of the year," says Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. "But we have played them a few times lately and just watching them play with their coach and their system, it's no surprise they are getting the wins."
The Coyotes are an impressive 20-13 on the road this season.
"It doesn't surprise me," says Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault. "If you look at their lineup carefully, besides the four balanced lines that they have, they've got defencemen who jump up in the play, and obviously their MVP is their goaltender. He has been one of the top three goalies this year in the NHL and he has done it consistently and that team right now is over 100 points. They are really second in our conference. That whole group has done a real good job and it will be a real tough game for us."
The Coyotes made some trade-deadline deals that have paid handsome dividends. Winger Lee Stempniak has 12 goals in 12 games since being acquired from Toronto. And winger Wojtek Wolski has 12 points in 12 games since being picked up from Colorado. Derek Morris has strengthened an already formidable defence.
Captain Shane Doan says the team has enjoyed proving all the critics wrong.
"You get challenged as an athlete and you want to respond," Doan said. "That's the way it always is. When someone tells you can't do something, you want to prove that you can. That's really kind of been the mindset of the team and it's worked this year for us to find ways to win."
The Canucks head into the game five points up on Colorado atop the Northwest Division. The Canucks are coming off a 4-2 loss Saturday night in San Jose and have only won twice in their last six games.
? INJURIES:
? The Coyotes will be without defenceman Kurt Sauer (head), winger Scottie Upshall (knee) and centre Robert Lang (foot).
? The Canucks are missing defenceman Willie Mitchell (concussion) and forwards Steve Bernier (abdominal surgery), Mikael Samuelsson (shoulder) and Pavol Demitra (personal).
? ICE CHIPS:
Canucks defenceman Shane O'Brien will sit out for disciplinary reasons tonight and will not accompany the team when it heads out on the road Wednesday for games Thursday in Los Angeles and Friday in Anaheim. Andrew Alberts takes his spot in the lineup and he will be paired with Christian Ehrhoff ? The Canucks have lost twice in shootouts to the Coyotes in Phoenix this season. Vancouver won easily, 4-0, in the Coyotes' previous visit to General Motors Place on Jan. 7.
Vancouver has respect for a Phoenix team on the rise
Not so long ago, a visit by the Phoenix Coyotes meant an automatic two points for the Vancouver Canucks.
But times have changed. These aren't your old Coyotes, who had gone seven seasons without a playoff appearance.
The Coyotes have already clinched a post-season berth and still have an outside chance of gaining the No. 1 playoff seed in the NHL's Western Conference.
Under new coach Dave Tippett, Phoenix finds itself in select company as one of only three NHL teams to have cracked the 100-point mark this season.
The Canucks insist they realize the Coyotes are no longer a team that can be taken lightly.
"They're well coached, that's the No. 1 thing," says Canuck winger Daniel Sedin. "They don't make a lot of mistakes, you have to work for every scoring chance you get out there. You don't get many 3-on-2 or 2-on-1 rushes because they always have five guys back. That helps the goalie, too ? he has been unbelievable, but he is really getting help from his teammates."
That goalie is Ilya Bryzgalov, who enters tonight's game (7 p.m., Sportsnet, Team 1040) tied for second in the NHL with 40 wins. He boasts a stingy 2.28 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.
The Coyotes clearly are the surprise team of the NHL this season.
"Obviously, nobody thought they would be over 100 points at this time of the year," says Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo. "But we have played them a few times lately and just watching them play with their coach and their system, it's no surprise they are getting the wins."
The Coyotes are an impressive 20-13 on the road this season.
"It doesn't surprise me," says Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault. "If you look at their lineup carefully, besides the four balanced lines that they have, they've got defencemen who jump up in the play, and obviously their MVP is their goaltender. He has been one of the top three goalies this year in the NHL and he has done it consistently and that team right now is over 100 points. They are really second in our conference. That whole group has done a real good job and it will be a real tough game for us."
The Coyotes made some trade-deadline deals that have paid handsome dividends. Winger Lee Stempniak has 12 goals in 12 games since being acquired from Toronto. And winger Wojtek Wolski has 12 points in 12 games since being picked up from Colorado. Derek Morris has strengthened an already formidable defence.
Captain Shane Doan says the team has enjoyed proving all the critics wrong.
"You get challenged as an athlete and you want to respond," Doan said. "That's the way it always is. When someone tells you can't do something, you want to prove that you can. That's really kind of been the mindset of the team and it's worked this year for us to find ways to win."
The Canucks head into the game five points up on Colorado atop the Northwest Division. The Canucks are coming off a 4-2 loss Saturday night in San Jose and have only won twice in their last six games.
? INJURIES:
? The Coyotes will be without defenceman Kurt Sauer (head), winger Scottie Upshall (knee) and centre Robert Lang (foot).
? The Canucks are missing defenceman Willie Mitchell (concussion) and forwards Steve Bernier (abdominal surgery), Mikael Samuelsson (shoulder) and Pavol Demitra (personal).
? ICE CHIPS:
Canucks defenceman Shane O'Brien will sit out for disciplinary reasons tonight and will not accompany the team when it heads out on the road Wednesday for games Thursday in Los Angeles and Friday in Anaheim. Andrew Alberts takes his spot in the lineup and he will be paired with Christian Ehrhoff ? The Canucks have lost twice in shootouts to the Coyotes in Phoenix this season. Vancouver won easily, 4-0, in the Coyotes' previous visit to General Motors Place on Jan. 7.
