GDT: Game 51: Coyotes @ Oilers | 7:30 PM MST | FSA+

[KG]

The issue is consistency. All of our players have had some really good nights and a lot of the have had horrible nights. I honestly think this team is pretty good when everyone is "maxing out" and we're not injured. We don't have the depth to handle forward injuries and we remain inconsistent since the lockout. I'm not sure why we're inconsistent, but we only have two players who have been "maxing out" all year, and that's Vermette and Z.

 

[zerekstar]

Well called this one. A win I simply can't be happy with. We probably should have lost. I thought Dmo and OEL were our only useful d-men. Yandle and Z both got turned inside out on multiple occasions. Flem and stone were stuck in their own zone every time they were out there. Although OEL did have that horrid turnover in the third, yikes.

Smith was pretty good, Boeds as well. Doan looked like complete crap again.

I was surprised at how bad Z got played last night but I guess everyone has a bad game from time to time.

 

[WJF]

Yep, napping in the 3rd period is never a safe thing to do, no matter what your lead going into it is.

I think there are some serious doubts about the ability of Tippett being able to properly motivate the players and keep the unit cohesive through 60 minutes. It's been virtually non-existant recently, except 3 or 4 games (the calgary game in early Jan, the Nucks game, and the Toronto game that I can remember) in the last 20.

I fault consistently bad starts (other than last nights game) - especially bad starts on home ice (inexcusable) - and not being able to play for a full 60min squarely on Tippet's shoulders.

This is a preparation and psychological thing. Execution is the players' fault, effort is the coach's and namely, the inability to pump his players up for a game and keep their spirits high between periods.

 

[_Del_]

The issue is consistency. .... I honestly think this team is pretty good when everyone is "maxing out" and we're not injured.

Well, so are the Oilers. You can't do this in this league. I don't know what the problem is. I'll take the two points because we need them, after the first 30mins this game felt like a loss.

 

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

I fault consistently bad starts (other than last nights game) - especially bad starts on home ice (inexcusable) - and not being able to play for a full 60min squarely on Tippet's shoulders.

This is a preparation and psychological thing. Execution is the players' fault, effort is the coach's and namely, the inability to pump his players up for a game and keep their spirits high between periods.

For home games, it's the long drive over from the east side. They should all be living in El Mirage.

 

[azcanuck]

I fault consistently bad starts (other than last nights game) - especially bad starts on home ice (inexcusable) - and not being able to play for a full 60min squarely on Tippet's shoulders.

This is a preparation and psychological thing. Execution is the players' fault, effort is the coach's and namely, the inability to pump his players up for a game and keep their spirits high between periods.

NHL players need to be "pumped up" by the coach? One of the more bizarre things I've ever heard.

The coyotes problem is clearly a lack of talent. We know longer have a goalie who stands on his head every night and the scoreboard reflects that.

We are a long way from the Ducks and Blackhawks.

Are the coyotes better then there record? Perhaps by a game or two either way.

 

[Dirty Old Man]

For home games, it's the long drive over from the east side. They should all be living in El Mirage.

I wonder where the Rangers all live.

 

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

I wonder where the Rangers all live.

Texas Rangers? Spring training? Don't know.

 

[huhwhtfkr]

FWIW : I think we've lost cohesiveness , its no longer the rag tag underdog team w no owner who everyone picked on. Its not the " us against the world" dynamic we've had for 4 years. that is a very powerful bonding agent.

 

[zz]

...

There is that. There's also more players already signed with long-term contracts and good salaries (Smith, Ribeiro, Hanzal, Korpikoski, OEL, Yandle and to some degree Doan). That comfort, combined with the team staying for at least 5 years, tend to make players perform at about 90% of their potential. It's just a human thing, really: challenges, adversity and desperation tend to bring the best out of a competitor.

In short, we went from a team performing at 110% of its potential through adversity to one that's at about 90% in a comfortable situation. Hence the result.

 

[zerekstar]

There is that. There's also more players already signed with long-term contracts and good salaries (Smith, Ribeiro, Hanzal, Korpikoski, OEL, Yandle and to some degree Doan). That comfort, combined with the team staying for at least 5 years, tend to make players perform at about 90% of their potential. It's just a human thing, really: challenges, adversity and desperation tend to bring the best out of a competitor.

In short, we went from a team performing at 110% of its potential through adversity to one that's at about 90% in a comfortable situation. Hence the result.

I think you are right. Comfort isn't always a good thing.

 

[cobra427]

There is that. There's also more players already signed with long-term contracts and good salaries (Smith, Ribeiro, Hanzal, Korpikoski, OEL, Yandle and to some degree Doan). That comfort, combined with the team staying for at least 5 years, tend to make players perform at about 90% of their potential. It's just a human thing, really: challenges, adversity and desperation tend to bring the best out of a competitor.

In short, we went from a team performing at 110% of its potential through adversity to one that's at about 90% in a comfortable situation. Hence the result.

I mostly agree with this. I also think we lost our identity early in the season with all the scoring that bailed us out. I do think in short, the biggest under achiever this year is Smith followed by Klesla. Smith playing at expectations (top 10 goalie), cures our problems. It really all boils down to him at this point.