Tippett: Find ways to create opportunities
May 19, 2012, 8:57 PM | Updated: May 20, 2012, 4:45 am
Analysts across the NHL have been giving Jonathan Quick
all of the credit in the Phoenix Coyotes series against
the Los Angeles Kings, in which the Coyotes trail 3-0.
Coyotes coach Dave Tippett, however, believes they haven’t
done a great deal to challenge Quick.
“I don’t think we’ve tested Quick enough yet,” Tippett
said. “They’ve done a good job of protecting him, but I
don’t think we’ve created enough around him.”
Quick has faced 70 shots in three games, while on the
other end Coyotes goalie Mike Smith has faced 117.
“Until we continue to test him for an extended period of
time, he hasn’t had it very tough down
there,” Tippett said.
Down 3-0, only three NHL teams have overcome such a
deficit in the playoffs, but the Coyotes feel that they
haven’t played to their full potential while being
outscored 10-3 by the Kings.
“I think a lot of times when the games have been tied,
what if we would have gotten a bounce one way or the
other,” said Coyotes defenseman Adrian Aucoin who is
questionable for Sunday’s game. “Until you lose the fourth
game, there’s always some hope.”
The Coyotes will practice on Saturday, and play Game 4
Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles.
“We’ve got to focus everything on the practice,” said
Martin Hanzal, who was suspended for Game 3 because of a
hit on the Kings’ Dustin Brown. “Just get ready for the
game because it’s our last chance.”
Tippett reiterated that their goal in Game 4 is to
challenge Quick, and put the puck in the Kings’ zone as
well as behind the net.
“We just haven’t had enough opportunities to get the pucks
there,” Tippett said. “That’s the thing that I’m more
critical of our group about, is finding opportunities to
get it there. We just haven’t created enough.”
