Game #45 – Coyotes/Ducks – Coyotes Game Notes | Phoenix Coyotes Hockey on AZ Vibe

Share	Tweet
					/r/hockey	/r/coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 27: Scottie Upshall of the Phoenix Coyotes celebrates with teammates after scoring a third period goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the NHL game at Jobing.com Arena on November 27, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Ducks defeated the Coyotes 6-4. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Coyotes/Ducks – Coyotes game notes

The Phoenix Coyotes battle the Anaheim Ducks at Jobing.com Arena. Puck drops at 6:00 PM Arizona time on Fox Sports Arizona.

Coyotes/Ducks Game Articles

Link to the Anaheim Ducks Game Notes

Link to the Coyotes/Ducks Matchup Stats

To say the red hot Anaheim Ducks are on a roll as of late would be the understatement of the century. Check out these stats:

- The Ducks have won three straight games and 6 of their last seven games.
- The Ducks are 11-5-1 in their last 17 games.
- The Ducks have outscored their opponents 14-4….in the last three games.

As you may or may not know, the Ducks lead the season series with the Coyotes 3-1. However, the first two games of the season happened were on a home and home schedule on back to back nights at the beginning of the season. The third meeting between the two teams came on the heels of the Coyotes Eastern coast road trip and possibly their worst games of the season…if not in franchise history.

Tonight, the Coyotes get the chance to see where and how they match up with the Ducks tonight as they are a much improved team since the New Year began.
However, so are the Anaheim Ducks.

Corey Perry spoke to the media prior to their travel to Phoenix and described the make up of the Ducks recent success.

“We’ve been playing well at home. It’s been our forechecking game and the play of Hillzy (Ducks Goaltender Jonas Hiller) is pretty much what it comes down to.” Perry continues, “We’ve been scoring a lot of goals because we’re getting in on the forecheck and wearing teams down. We have to continue that success on the road.”

If you note from the Phoenix Coyotes website, their ‘Stat Tracker’ states that ‘Since January 1, 2011 – The Coyotes have earned 12 out of a possible 14 pts. and have not lost a game in regulation time.’

You hear the various TV, print, and online NHL media talk about ‘The Wild West’, in reference to the Western Conference standings. Tonight’s game between the Coyotes and Ducks truly is an example of one of the wilder of the ‘Wild West’ match-ups this season.

Morning Skate Notes

- Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and the Anaheim Ducks Jonas Hiller are expected to start in net tonight for their respective teams.

- Newly acquired Coyotes defenseman Michal Rozsival is not expected to play tonight.

Injuries

Ducks: Aaron Voros (Orbital bone fracture – out), Ryan Getzlaf (Multiple non-displaced sinus fractures – out)

Coyotes: No injuries reported.

Things to watch for

How will the Coyotes respond tonight

– Given their recent schedule as of late the Phoenix Coyotes have been slow to start games, which is understandable. However, given how the Ducks have dominated the Coyotes this season and how quickly they have the potential to score, the Coyotes can’t start the game asleep tonight.

The Ducks forecheck

– The Ducks have dominated the Coyotes this season with a forecheck that the Coyotes have not had an answer for yet this season. Keep an eye on how this part of the Ducks game develops.

Keys to the Game

Discipline in the Coyotes defensive zone

- This has been the trademark of the Phoenix Coyotes since Dave Tippett was hired by the team. The Coyotes successes game to game hinge on this one key element of their game. When they play 60 minutes of solid disciplined play in their defensive zone, they’re virtually unbeatable. When they don’t……the game outcome is a toss up.

Don’t let the Ducks establish a forecheck and clog the neutral zone

- If there’s one key to success the Ducks have had against the Phoenix Coyotes this season its their forecheck. The Coyotes need quick, clean passes out of their zone in and in transistion. They have to be aware that they Ducks game plan is to wear them down and take advantage of any scoring opportunity or Coyotes lapse in their defensive zone. Given how many points their forwards have generated this season and their current winning streak, it’s a safe bet that the Ducks will come out with both proverbial guns blazing.

Offensive Depth

The main asset of this team is that there’s so much forward depth on this team that any of the Coyotes four lines can score at will. The Coyotes need to bring this aspect of their game to the table once again as it will give opposing teams fits as to who to throw their shut down lines on.