DDB: Marching Toward Milestones

GLENDALE – It’s looking as if March will be a month of
milestones for the Coyotes as Head Coach Dave Tippett and
two veterans near key benchmarks of their careers.

Tippett likely will be first to reach his as he enters
Sunday’s game at Edmonton needing just one victory to
reach his 400th as an NHL head coach.

Tippett began his NHL head coaching career in 2002-03 with
the Dallas Stars. In eight seasons as an NHL head coach in
Dallas and Phoenix, he has guided his team to a Stanley
Cup Playoff berth seven times.

“He’s as fierce a competitor as anyone I’ve ever seen,”
Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said. “…He’s really
got a finger on the pulse of his team. He can identify the
things that really make a difference between winning and
losing.”

Only Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock has posted
more regular-season victories than Tippett since Tippett
became a head coach in the League in 2002-03. Babcock has
415 wins during that time; Tippett has 399.

Meanwhile, left wing Ray Whitney is quickly closing in on
his 1,000th NHL point. Whitney, who at age 39 is enjoying
his fifth-best season in terms of point production with a
team-high 66, has notched 992 points since joining the NHL
in 1991-92.

After being held scoreless in three straight games in mid-
January, Whitney – nicknamed ‘The Wizard’ for his crafty
playmaking – has notched seven goals and 23 assists in his
past 27 games. Moreover, Whitney ranks third among active
NHL players with the most points (317) after turning 35
years old; Anaheim’s Teemu Selanne has 449 and Detroit’s
Niklas Lidstrom has 413.

“Ray continues to excel with his intelligence and stick
skills,” Maloney said. “In the offensive zone with the
puck on his stick, he is as clever as any front-line
player. That he is playing at this level at 39 years of
age is remarkable. He is often matched up against our
opponent’s best defenders which makes his year-long
performance even more impressive.”

And finally, defenseman Derek Morris is just five games
away from playing in his 1,000th NHL game. Morris returned
to the lineup on Thursday night after missing 15 games
because of an illness in his family.

Morris, who also is closing in on his 400th NHL point, has
played 432 of his 995 NHL games with the Coyotes.

“We are happy to welcome Derek back to our lineup,”
Maloney said. “Adding a quality, experienced NHL
defenseman at this time of year is a real bonus in our
drive to get to the playoffs.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Contact Dave Vest at
thedesertdogblog@phoenixcoyotes.com and follow him on
Twitter @davest4yotes.
For information on upcoming Phoenix Coyotes games, please
visit http://coyotes.nhl.com

Follow @theAdamGreen