Phoenix Coyotes Hockey on AZ Vibe

Phoenix Coyotes vs Dallas Stars American Airlines Center – Dallas, Texas Puck Drops at 4:00 PM AZ Time TV: FSN-AZ/NHLN-US Radio:KFNN 1510

The Coyotes grueling schedule continues with the second game in two nights. With little to no time today, the Coyotes have to get their games going for tonight’s matchup against a Stars team that has been on a scoring tear.

In the last four games, the Stars have scored an average of 4.5 goals per game highlighted by the 8-2 demolishing of the San Jose Sharks this past week. However, their goaltending has been shoddy at best with Marty Turco not playing up to his normal abilities. In the the 11 games since Phoenix and Dallas last met before the Olympic Break, Turco has 2 wins, 5 losses, and benched 4 times.

Since coming back from the Olympic Break, the Stars have managed only to win 3 games so it’s tough to determine which Stars team is going to show up this evening.  Will it be the wrecking machine that laid the San Jose Sharks to waste?  Or will it be the Stars team that got demolished by other teams?

The Coyotes are beginning a long stretch of games where they will have heavy travel and little breaks in between games.  We all know they have the skills and ability to go toe to toe with any team in the league.  The thing is will they be able to play a full 60 minutes of hockey without running out of gas?

We shall see.

Game Notes:

- Pre-game presser with Coach Tippett (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=335&iid=21233

- Pre-game interview with Vernon Fiddler (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=335&iid=21234

- Coyotes reporting Jason LaBarbera will start in net tonight.

- FYI Newly Acquired Defenseman Mathieu Schneider is wearing #23. If you don’t see his name in the lineup moving forward it’s not because he’s not on the team anymore, it’s because people are using names of players who used to wear Schneider’s number.

- The Stars have not allowed a goal on a single 5-3 disadvantage this season.

Things to watch for:

Stars Goaltending -As explained above, Turco has not been his old self and has been benched the last three games for newly acquired goaltender Kari Lethonen.  My money is on Lethonen starting this evening.

Keys to the game:

What’s Left in the Tank? – Even though the Coyotes are on an eight game winning streak, they have taken a beating on their bodies with the travel and effort they have put in the past week and a half or so.  It just makes me wonder how much is left in the proverbial tank as this next stretch of games.  It’s going to take a tremendous effort to keep this high scoring Dallas offensive chances down to a minimum.

Secondary Scoring – As wonderful it has been to see Stempniak and Wolski score in bunches, we haven’t heard a peep from other players on the roster like Petr Prucha, Taylor Pyatt, etc.  The Coyotes strength is in their offensive balance across the roster.  It’s time some of the players on the roster showed us that.

Coyotes Defense vs. Stars Offense -Given the Stars offensive outburst the past four games, the Coyotes are going to be a tired group and will need to summon up a tight defensive game.  If not, the Coyotes may be in for a long night like San Jose did on the 16th of this month.

Officials:

Referees Mike Leggo (3), Kelly Sutherland (11)
Linesmen Don Henderson (91), Lyle Seitz (61)

Injuries/Scratches:

Coyotes: Kurt Sauer(IR), Scottie Upshall(IR), Robert Lang(Day to Day), Lepisto, Bissonnette, Tikhonov and Vandermeer
Stars: Tom Wandell (IR), Mike Modano(IR)