In an unexpected turn of events, two Western Conference teams that were perceived as sellers at the NHL’s trade deadline – Phoenix and Dallas – have suddenly leapt to the front of the pack of playoff contenders as the season enters its final three weeks.
Dallas stunned San Jose in a shootout Sunday to pull into 10th place in the Western Conference standings. The Coyotes? All they did was sweep a three-game homestand to jump four spots in the standings and pull into ninth place at 40 points, just three points behind the suddenly sagging Detroit Red Wings.
“It doesn’t really do us much good if we don’t climb a couple more,” captain Shane Doan told reporters Saturday. “Ninth doesn’t get you anything.”
What this run has done is given the Coyotes a chance. Detroit still has that aforementioned three-point lead and it currently owns the first playoff tiebreaker by virtue of its 17 regulation or overtime wins compared with the Coyotes’ 14.
But at least the Coyotes have some positive vibes coursing through their veins again. Mike Smith returned to the goal on Saturday and promptly posted a shutout in a 4-0 win over Colorado. Defenseman Zbynek Michalek (foot) made the trip and could play soon, and the three players shipped out at the trade deadline – Raffi Torres, Matthew Lombardi and Steve Sullivan – are distant memories now.
"What we've done is hopefully build some momentum going on a tough road trip," said coach Dave Tippett, whose team has posted 10 points in its last six games. “We’ve kept ourselves in the game.”
Now the Coyotes have to figure out what’s been a stumbling block all season – playing away from Jobing.com Arena. Phoenix is just 4-8-5 on the road this season, where it will play seven of its final 10 games.
Tonight’s opponent, Vancouver, has been one of the league’s hotter teams of late, having gone 8-2 in its last 10 to regain control of the Northwest Division from the Minnesota Wild.
“The last six points were huge, and we got them,” Doan said, “but it doesn’t mean much if we go on the road and lay an egg.”
THREE KEY OPPONENT STATS
Not so special: With the presence of the Sedin twins, you’d expect the Canucks’ power play to be lethal. Not so. The Canucks rank just 26th with the extra man (or two) at 13.6 percent and more than two percentage points behind the Coyotes’ much-maligned unit. Vancouver’s penalty killing unit hasn’t been a whole lot better, although it ranks in the middle of the pack (13th) at 82.4 percent.
The drive for five: Vancouver has won the last four Northwest Division titles, but that streak appeared in jeopardy when Ryan Kleser went down with a broken foot and the Minnesota Wild started heating up late in the season. Vancouver has righted the ship after a bit of slip, however, having won eight of its last 10 games to pull ahead of the Wild by two points. The teams do not meet again this season in the race for the Western Conference’s No. 3 playoff seed. After this game, Vancouver will hit the road for a five-game road trip over eight days. That may well decide the division.
Heating up again: Through much of this 8-2 stretch, Vancouver had been carried by the goaltending of Cory Schneider, but the Canucks have scored nine goals in their last two games. Is that a statistical blip or a bad omen for the Coyotes?
THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
No more doubt: Most analysts who watched Vancouver play last season figured Schneider had earned the right to be the Canucks’ starting goalie. This season has removed all doubt. While the Canucks were shopping Roberto Luongo’s impossible-to-move contract at the trade deadline (they failed), Schneider was leading a team resurgence by climbing into the NHL’s top 10 in save percentage (sixth at .926) and goals against average (10th at 2.16). Schneider has allowed more than two goals just once in his last 10 outings.
Playoff boost: Forward Ryan Kesler (broken foot) is fully healed and participated in an optional team skate on Saturday, although his return to the lineup is uncertain. Kelser’s return would be huge for the Canucks as they enter the playoffs. He hasn’t played since Feb. 28, and he’s only played seven games this season after missing the start while recovering from offseason shoulder and wrist surgeries. His presence would give the team an offensive threat from its second line and create a domino effect that solidifies the other forward lines. “I'm itching to play, I'm itching big time,” Kesler told the Vancouver Sun. “It's been a tough year for me, but everything happens for a reason. Skating with the team is obviously the next step. It felt good to be out there again. Now it's just a matter of getting my wind back and for me to feel comfortable.”
Picks to click: F Antoine Vermette has 16 points in 20 career games against the Canucks and had the lone goal in the team’s 2-1 loss to Vancouver on March 21 at Jobing.com Arena.
INJURY REPORT
For the Coyotes, F Lauri Korpikoski (upper body) is out and did not make the trip. D Zbynek Michalek (lower body) is on injured reserve. ... For the Canucks, D Keith Ballard (foot), who has been out for five games, is questionable. F Ryan Kesler (foot) is day to day.
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