ARIZONA COYOTES

Phoenix Coyotes’ Yandle: Team must play with desperation

Mar 18, 2014, 11:45 PM | Updated: 11:45 pm

Follow @theAdamGreen...

LISTEN: Keith Yandle- Alternate Captain for the Phoenix Coyotes

As of Tuesday morning, the Phoenix Coyotes are once again a Western Conference playoff team.

By way of their 4-3 win over the L.A. Kings, the ‘Yotes passed Dallas for the second Wild Card spot.

The Coyotes are 33-25-11 with 77 points. There are 13 games remaining, though, so things are still very much up for grabs. The situation calls for a bit of desperation.

“We’re fighting for our lives and it’s something (that) for us to get in the playoffs, we have to win the majority of our games,” Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle told the Dan Bickley Show with Vince Marotta Tuesday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “That’s what we like to do; we like to play that type of hockey and that’s what we get paid for.

“It’s one of those things. We have to be desperate; if we’re not, we’re going to find ourselves on the outside looking in.”

It’s really that simple for the Coyotes.

The Coyotes, of course, have proven capable of beating some of the best the NHL has to offer, which is partly what makes their inconsistency so maddening. It’s not as if the team isn’t talented enough to win, so why haven’t they?

“I don’t know if there’s a certain explanation for it,” Yandle said. “It’s the NHL — every team is good, every team can win games.”

Of course, that does not mean Yandle and the Coyotes don’t have losses they regret, but that is bound to happen throughout the course of an 82-game season.

“For us, we’ve just got to find that consistency of bringing it every night.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Coyotes

Arizona Coyotes F Logan Cooley...

Associated Press

Logan Cooley nabs 1st career hat trick as Coyotes end Predators’ points streak

Logan Cooley had his first NHL hat trick and the Arizona Coyotes snapped the Nashville Predators’ point streak.

10 hours ago

Matias Maccelli #63 of the Arizona Coyotes skates with the puck during an NHL game at Mullett Arena...

Associated Press

Josh Doan nets twice in NHL debut, Coyotes score 4 goals in 3rd and beat Blue Jackets

Josh Doan had two goals including the go-ahead score in his first NHL game and the Arizona Coyotes beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2.

2 days ago

ASU hockey player Josh Doan and father Shane Doan wave to fans before the ceremonial first puck to ...

David Veenstra

Arizona Coyotes forward Josh Doan scores twice in NHL debut

Coyotes forward Josh Doan scored twice in his NHL debut on Tuesday. Doan had goals in the second and third period against Columbus. 

2 days ago

Josh Doan...

Damon Allred

Arizona Coyotes recall forward Josh Doan from Tucson Roadrunners

The Arizona Coyotes recalled former second-round pick Josh Doan, son of former captain Shane Doan, from the Tucson Roadrunners.

4 days ago

Miro Heiskanen #4 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck while being defended by Alex Kerfoot #15...

Associated Press

Arizona Coyotes fall to Dallas Stars for 2nd time in last 3 games

Miro Heiskanen broke a tie with 5:28 left and the Stars won their fourth consecutive game, beating the Coyotes on Sunday night.

4 days ago

Dylan Guenther...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ Dylan Guenther scores overtime game-winner vs. Kraken

Dylan Guenther scored in overtime to give the Arizona Coyotes a win over Seattle on Friday night.

6 days ago

Phoenix Coyotes’ Yandle: Team must play with desperation