Phoenix Coyotes desperate to earn a playoff spot as they take on Colorado Avalanche – NHL Preview
Phoenix Coyotes’ slump this month was well capitalised by Colorado Avalanche who are now placed among the top eight teams of the National Hockey League (NHL) Western Conference and are well on the course of reaching the playoffs.
As for Coyotes, they have lost their playoff spot and will have to work really hard to get ranked among the top eight teams of the Western Conference.
Both teams are going to face each other on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at Jobing.com Arena, Glendale, Arizona.
Let’s have a look at both teams.
Coyotes
They are ranked at ninth spot in the Western Conference with 84 points after 74 games and are tied with eighth-ranked Los Angeles Kings in terms of points.
They were ranked among the top eight teams of the conference last month, but their slump this month has badly hurt their ranking.
Coyotes have lost eight games this month and won only three. Their recent defeat came against Dallas Stars.
Stars were strong from the start and got a two-goal lead by the end of the second period. Coyotes did manage to retaliate and scored two goals in the final period to force the game to overtime, but they eventually lost the game when Stars scored in shootout
later.
Coyotes still got one point and were relatively satisfied with that.
Avalanche
They have lost four games this month and won seven and are currently on a two-game winning streak with the victories coming against New York Rangers (3-1) and Calgary Flames (2-1 in overtime).
Against Flames, Avalanche got one goal down early in the first period, but they managed to provide the equaliser in the same period.
The second and third period went goalless and Avalanche got another goal in the overtime to win the game.
Avalanche’s goaltender, Semyon Varlamov, made 31 saves in the game. Defenseman, Shane O'Brien, said of him:
"He's playing great for us. We're going to continue to try and get better in front of him and limit (the opponent's) chances, and if we do that we have a good chance of winning."
Avalanche are ranked at seventh spot in the Western Conference with 85 points after 75 games.
Predictions
Avalanche have an edge.
The sum of goals scored by both teams will be six or more.
If Coyotes win, the winning margin will be less than two goals.
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