GDT: WCQF G2: Coyotes @ Avalanche | 11:00 AM | 14/8/2020 | Mission 16 SOG

[Mosby]

And the PP badly needs Schmaltz.

 

[GiveAFlyingPuck]

anyone remember the last time we scored an a 6on5 goal?

It was 29 March 2019, against the Avs.

NHL site says we had two 6 on 5 goals this season. That could be if the goalie goes to the bench on a delayed penalty. I don't remember any of those, though.

 

[MayDayMayDay]

Stuck to our identity. Loved the effort. Just missing some pieces. Need offense, piss and vinegar. Series isn't over yet.

 

[Neighborhood Coyote]

Couple of thoughts.

First of all, much better game by the Yotes. Could have easily been a W... Unlucky goal against was the decider.

Second: I've been worried about and it seems to be happening... That the PP is gonna cost the Yotes the season just like last season. Yotes score on one today....how different is the game? Or hell... Even game 1 it could have stolen the game like the Avs did today.

Third: this is why that 1st game was so freaking annoying. Yotes straight up spotted the Avs an unearned game. Can't afford to do that in playoffs. Yotes are much better than that first game and today showed that.

Fourth: Imagine if Stepan had an ounce of offensive finish? That would be useful. Kessel seemed invisible or to show up in bad ways again.

 

[Prarievarg]

I though Kessel played well tonight

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

Thought you guys were the better team in this one. Strong effort from the Coyotes.

 

[Foggy1097]

Kessel needs to shoot the puck without telegraphing the shit out of it every time. Where is the quick release...the deceptive shot? I feel like he hasn’t had a lot of time and space to let it rip much either though. Thought Garland had a better game. If they are going to come back, they need Schmaltz back and Kessel/Crouse/Chychrun really need to step up and be better.

 

[Lawson of Anarchy]

I though Kessel played good tonight

Agreed. He was highly visible in a good way.

 

[XX]

I though Kessel played well tonight

It's a bit of a trick, because you can't notice him losing puck battles when he refuses to even skate to them. He made some questionable decisions with and without the puck tonight. Not an effort that offended but not great either.

 

[cobra427]

Game 1 outplayed, but tied with 10 minutes left.
Game 2 evenly played, think we outplayed them a little, tied with 4 minutes left.

I think this is the learning process for the team and players of how to win in the playoffs. We are close. I'll take an evenly shot game against the Avs and tied with 4 minutes left any day. I hope we play as well tomorrow, we had a great chance for a win today.

 

[Neighborhood Coyote]

I though Kessel played well tonight

Interesting, I didn't see it haha. If I get a chance to rewatch things I'll keep an eye out!

 

[Lawson of Anarchy]

If they had lost like that last game, I wouldn’t be mad.

If we had a Shane Doan on this team, and a better coaching staff, I like us better than them. I’m serious. An emotional lightning rod like Doan and capable staff, I think would give us the edge in a 7 game series against the Avs.

I know what you mean. A true captain who inspires the team and can lift a strongly defensive group with a red hot goalie in an underdog way. Nick Foligno for CBJ. Same kind of team as us with a lightning rod captain.

 

[Mosby]

Fischer needs to come out of the lineup if Schmaltz is ready to go. Not getting enough (anything) from him.

 

[Bandit34]

Fischer needs to come out of the lineup if Schmaltz is ready to go. Not getting enough (anything) from him.

Tocchet has been matching his line up against Colorado's big line on 5v5.

 

[Bondurant]

Wrapped up an annoying shift in my "home office". Completely zoned out and missed the game. Not sure how it went on ice today but I like seeing that they had a few more shots than Colorado. Some of the pieces are getting there but it is time to shift gears in a 0-2 hole.

 

[rt]

Tocchet has been matching his line up against Colorado's big line on 5v5.

Move Grabner to that line then.

 

[moosemeister]

Agree. Fischer has been solid but someone needs to come out. It’s between Fish and Vinnie. I think Vinnie has had a little more of an impact since coming in

 

[DOTS13]

I had to spend 4 hours in the car today. Listened to Heeter and Biz the whole time (they have such a funny dynamic).

Sounded like a good game. Of course right when Burakovsky sealed it, I was on 101 driving by the rink and had a few choice words to myself about the game, arena, and organization. As is life as a Coyotes fan. Someone please !

 

[Foggy1097]

Agree. Fischer has been solid but someone needs to come out. It’s between Fish and Vinnie. I think Vinnie has had a little more of an impact since coming in

Even though Vinny hasn’t been bad, I think it should be him. If Schmaltz is ready, I really think they should roll with...

Hall-Stepan-Keller
Garland-Dvo-Schmaltz
Grabner-Richardson-Kessel
Crouse-Soderberg-Fischer

I like Keller with Hall quite a bit. That second line, you have some reliable center ice support for Schmaltz and the option of having it lineup Dvo-Schmaltz-Garland after the faceoffs if you wanted to go that route....and I really think that 3rd line could click and be amazing. Could unlock Phil. Richie and Grabs have both been good and can skate with Phil...very similar to the old Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel line I feel like. I really want to see it happen...Toc has got to try Phil elsewhere, because it’s not working. If Schmaltz comes in it’s the perfect time to do it.

 

[brentashton]

Happy that they played a more complete game today, right from the first whistle. Got shafted by a deflection and goal late in the game but shit happens. This is a young team so I hope to see them go hard in the next game, they really have nothing to lose at this point, put it out there boys. It’s a test at this point. Definitely will be a measure of their will to fight For each other. And I hope Schmaltz is back for #3.

Now off to my official Biznasty training regimen, a big bowlful and some Psilocybin. And if I could only get out of this “I’m so scared to travel”country and get back to my happy place in NoPho , I’d be a Very happy guy.Go Yotes and fans.

 

[brentashton]

Happy that they played a more complete game today. Got shafted by a deflection And goal late in the game. This is a young team so I hope to see them go hard in the next game, they really have nothing to lose at this point. definitely will be a measure of their will to fight. Now off to my official Biznasty training regimen, a big bowlful and some

 

[AJ171181]

Nice game Yotes, bad luck on the 2:3 and some penalties... yeah ok...

The guys are not that bad some people make them. Rollercoaster season with ups and downs.
In the end end we are good enough to give the Avs a good fight. I like.

Badly need Schmaltz for the Powerplay.

 

[Dead Coyote]

If they had lost like that last game, I wouldn’t be mad.

If we had a Shane Doan on this team, and a better coaching staff, I like us better than them. I’m serious. An emotional lightning rod like Doan and capable staff, I think would give us the edge in a 7 game series against the Avs.

Damn if only we had someone who had a firespark. Someone who had emotions. Someone who got hyped up and put his heart out there every shift, and if he got shit he fought for that. Well, at least we have Phil Kessel.

 

[Canis Latrans]

The defensive effort was still quite good. Haven't looked closely at the shot charts, but the Avalanche seemed mostly kept to the outside like in Game 1. A few chances against are always to be expected. A lot more effort in almost all aspects of the game to be pleased about. My most nitpicky issue is with the powerplay and specifically with the zone exit into zone entry attempts. The drop pass is not being done well because the receiving player has no speed upon receiving it. It's more like player one tries to rush it up against five and fails, but turns around and throws it back to whomever, who now starts skating and picks a lane to try the same thing where, upon failing to again get past five guys, a dump-in with no possession gained occurs resulting in a restart until it's unit two's turn to try it. The Avalanche used the dropped pass entry effectively in the game because their secondary skater was actually moving and gets to zip by the defender who forced the first guy's drop pass, and then it's a 4 on 3 and easy zone entry. This is based off my memory so chime in if you saw things differently.

Anyway, I think the rest of the powerplay gets an incomplete because they didn't really get enough time ever get it set-up, so possibly the in zone movement might be adequate against the Avalanche, but we'll never know if they can't ever get to that point. I think adding Schmaltz will help as he's good at zone entry and then he's good on the power play in zone movement. I could see justification for keeping him out of this last game so he can get that one more day of recovery and replace someone on this back-to-back.

One last thing to touch on - with the Coyotes being the home team in the next two, I think that bodes well for keeping up the defensive shutdown of MacKinnon that they've been doing for the most part. They get the last change, so should help with the matchups. Again, I haven't looked at the shift chart, but it'd be interesting to see who he was matched up against when he was being most effective and vice versa.

 

[PainForShane]

Even though Vinny hasn’t been bad, I think it should be him. If Schmaltz is ready, I really think they should roll with...

Hall-Stepan-Keller
Garland-Dvo-Schmaltz
Grabner-Richardson-Kessel
Crouse-Soderberg-Fischer

I like Keller with Hall quite a bit. That second line, you have some reliable center ice support for Schmaltz and the option of having it lineup Dvo-Schmaltz-Garland after the faceoffs if you wanted to go that route....and I really think that 3rd line could click and be amazing. Could unlock Phil. Richie and Grabs have both been good and can skate with Phil...very similar to the old Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel line I feel like. I really want to see it happen...Toc has got to try Phil elsewhere, because it’s not working. If Schmaltz comes in it’s the perfect time to do it.

I’ve been outspoken about this throughout the season but imo Kessel needs to be in the top 6 in order to be effective — unfortunately he’s no longer the player he was during those Pittsburgh cup runs (or maybe we are not as talented as those teams were — probably a mix of both). Interesting idea pairing Kessel with Grabs that might be really good for Grabner. That said I’d suggest the following (if Schmaltz is back)

Hall - Dvo - Garland
Keller - Schmaltz - Kessel
Grabner - Stepan - Vinnie (or Crouse)
Soda - Richardson - Fischer

1) Hall, Dvo, Garland were our #1 line for most of the season after the Hall trade, they actually played well together and were the only line that consistently generated offensive chances. Not sure why they haven’t played together this playoff, Garland hasn’t been great away from Hall

2) Last year, we acquired Nick Schmaltz and immediately signed him to a long term deal, Tocchet had him centering Keller before the injury and the two had lots of chemistry. To the point where Tocchet said something like “Of course we’re going to play Schmaltz and Keller together I’d have to be an idiot not to” so of course this year Schmaltz moved to wing and both Keller and Schmaltz were invisible for much of the regular season.

3) Keller - Schmaltz - Kessel will be maybe the softest line in the entire league, but we get last change so if you can keep them away from physical players we should be ok. The way Keller’s been after the puck during this postseason that line has game-breaking potential

Looking forward to tomorrow’s game!! Puck drop at noon. Let’s see if we can play the same way we did today and get a win this time