Post All-Star slate of games affords Coyotes opportunity to display real growth

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Last season, the Coyotes came out of the All-Star break with a 24-20-5 record and the belief they were still in the playoff hunt. The problem for many of the Coyotes was that they didn’t know what that playoff push would require.

The Los Angeles Kings came to town, beat the Coyotes, 6-2 at Gila River Arena, and sent Arizona on a four-game, post-break slide. By the time February ended, Arizona had lost 11 of 14 games and the playoffs were a pipe dream.

“They came in and they played like a real determined team, and we played like a young team,” said coach Dave Tippett, who will face the Kings again on Tuesday at Gila River Arena in the Coyotes’ first of 34 remaining games after the All-Star break. “We’re going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

The Coyotes practiced on Monday, riding the best wave of momentum they have seen in a season decidedly short on them. They have won three straight games, goalie Mike Smith had a memorable All-Star weekend, left wing Max Domi will start practicing with the team on Tuesday and even injured center Brad Richardson skated for the first time since breaking two bones in his right leg.

Center Alex Burmistrov has injected a level of creativity that was missing at the center position, and Arizona has seen growth from rookies Christian Dvorak, Brendan Perlini, Lawson Crouse, Jakob Chychrun and even Christian Fischer, who will stay in Tucson for the time being as the Coyotes welcome back Domi.

“We want to continue to build on what we’ve done over the past month,” Smith said. “We’ve done some really good things to make our team better and to give ourselves a more consistent chance to be in hockey games and to win hockey games. We’ve gotten some results from that lately.”

About a dozen team members stayed in the Valley and golfed together over the weekend in what captain Shane Doan called a valuable bonding experience, but when they reported for duty on Monday, Tippett had a sobering message for them.

“You’re going to get teams that are real hungry and that’s a good challenge for our group,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of young players in there where their game has continued to evolve and progress, but now you’re going to get pushed harder and you see how they react.”

It’s playoff push time in the NHL. While the Coyotes won’t be in the postseason mix, they are about to gain some valuable experience by competing against teams that are.

“The second half of the season is a lot more intense,” Doan said. “You’re going to see it and feel it. There’s no comparing it to playoffs hockey, but it’s another step in that direction.”

Tippett, Doan and Smith all admitted there is no way to prepare the young players for what lies ahead, so the approach is simple.

“Throw them right in the battle just like we did at the start of the year,” Tippett said.

Adding to the team’s challenge is the looming NHL trade deadline, which could further alter the make-up of this roster on March 1. That’s a bridge the Coyotes will cross later, but the young players are anxious to experience another level of hockey as they continue to learn.

“Eventually, you want to play at the highest levels so it’s nothing to shy away from, especially in my position,” Perlini said. “I want to keep proving that I deserve to play in this league. Hopefully, I can ramp my play up as well.”

Kings at Coyotes

When: 7 p.m., Tuesday
Where: Gila River Arena, Glendale
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM
Records: Coyotes — 16-26-6. Kings — 24-21-1.

Injury report: Coyotes — C Brad Richardson (broken right tibia and fibula) is out indefinitely. LW Max Domi (hand) is day to day. Kings — D Matt Greene (IR, back), C Nic Dowd (lower body) and RW Tyler Toffoli (IR, lower body) are day to day. G Jonathan Quick (IR, groin) is out until March. There is a good chance Dowd will play.

Scouting the Kings: Los Angeles was one spot out of the Western Conference’s final wild card spot coming out of the All-Star break … L.A. is just 10-13-3 away from Staples Center … C Jeff Carter leads the team with 24 goals and 43 points and has helped make up for a down year from C Anze Kopitar (five goals, 27 points) … G Peter Budaj is 22-14 with a .919 save percentage and a 2.06 goals against average while filling the skates of Quick.

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