Phoenix Coyotes to take on Vancouver Canucks – NHL Preview
An impressive five-game winning streak has brought Phoenix Coyotes in the safe zone from where it can qualify for the playoffs, but the team has to keep on displaying marvels in order to maintain its present status.
Although Vancouver Canucks has a much better record than Coyotes, the latter’s threatening recent run has rung alarm bells for the former.
Both the teams are going to face off in a National Hockey League (NHL) game on Monday, February 13, 2012, at Rogers Arena, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Phoenix is currently placed at eighth spot in the Western Conference with 62 points after 56 games.
Coyotes’ recent victims include San Jose Sharks (5-3), Detroit Red Wings (3-1), Dallas Stars (4-1), Calgary Flames (2-1 in overtime) and Chicago Blackhawks (3-0).
In all the games, the defence was fabulous and the goaltender, Mike Smith, who got the deserving shutout after making 38 saves against Blackhawks, was excellent.
Phoenix’s coach, Dave Tippet, was pleased after winning against Chicago and said that the victories were a result of a collective effort.
He said:
"We have to put a string together, and we hadn't had a sustained winning streak all year.”
The coach added:
“A sustained winning streak can get you right back to where you want to be. These five games have obviously been a great boost to us. We're playing better as a group. We're doing things that make you win."
Unlike Phoenix, Vancouver will enter the game carrying a defeat at its back.
Vancouver has won six out of its last eight games and its three-game winning streak was snapped by Calgary Flames on Saturday.
Flames got a two-goal lead in the game, but Canucks managed to equalise the score by the end of regulation.
After the goalless overtime, the game was forced to shootout where Flames scored two goals while Canucks could only get one.
Canucks’ coach, Alain Vigneault, lauded the team effort after the game. He said:
“We played a really good game tonight, from start to finish. In my mind, this was probably our best game of the road trip and we lost but that's hockey sometimes."
Vancouver is ranked at second spot in the Western Conference with 74 points after 55 games.
Phoenix does have the ability to overcome Canucks, but the former has to watch out for the latter’s ability to comeback after going down.
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