Looking at the Phoenix Coyotes

by MrNorrisTrophy on Oct 21, 2009 5:57 PM CDT in Game Preview Comment 0 comments

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

Key Wins: 3-0 over Pittsburgh (Penguins only loss thus far), 1-0 and 3-2 over San Jose, 4-0 over Boston

With an off-season of highly publicized turmoil surrounding the front office woes and the Jim Balsillie bid for the team, not much was expected out of the team from the majority of the outsider opinions. Add in the resignation of one of the game's greatest players in Wayne Gretzky from his head coaching position, and expectation were lowered even further. In steps former Dallas coach Dave Tippett to fill the coaching void and bring a new attitude to the team.

Category	Stat	NHL Rank	Leading…	Stat	Player
Goals per game	2.43	20th	Scorer (Points)	6 (1 G, 5 A)	Shane Doan
Goals Against per game	1.43	1st	+/-	+4	Aucoin/Vandermeer
Power play	20.6%	17th	Hits	17	James Vandermeer
Penalty kill	84%	11th	PIM	23	Martin Hanzal
Shots per game	30.7	17th	Shots	32	Ratim Vrbata
Shots against per game	26.9	6th	Blocked Shots	9	Aucoin/Jovanovski
Faceoff percentage	52.8%	7th	Faceoffs	61.7%	Vernon Fiddler
PIM per game	11.9	13th	Wins	5	Ilya Bryzgalov
PP drawn	34	10th	GAA	1.14	Ilya Bryzgalov

Ilya Bryzgalov has found a home in Phoenix as the starting goalie and has proved he is more than capable. He can shut the door on the best of teams on any given night and its helps that the defense around him is limiting the number of shots he has to face. With a good faceoff percentage and a tough defense, the Coyotes present real problems for this Red Wings team.

Players to watch on offense: Shane Doan, Peter Mueller, Petr Prucha

Players to watch on defense: Ed Jovanovski, Adrian Aucoin

Five For Howling is the SBNation affiliate for the Coyotes. Check 'em out.

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