Yotes notes: Continued Pacific dominance key to playoff hopes
Jan 1, 2016, 7:16 PM
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Connor Murphy and Shane Doan (19) celebrate the Coyotes defeated the Winnipeg Jets 5-2 during an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. The Coyotes won 4-2. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Coyotes 7-1-1 record against the Pacific Division is the best intra-division record of any team in the Western Conference, and just a shade behind the New York Islanders’ 7-0-2 mark against the Metropolitan for tops in the league.
It’s a big reason the Coyotes sit in second place in the division — and in a playoff spot. Arizona is 11-15-2 against the rest of the league.
The Coyotes have a chance to pad that record when they open a three-game road trip in Western Canada against division rivals Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary.
“Hopefully, we’ll get some people back,” coach Dave Tippett said of injured centers Martin Hanzal and Boyd Gordon. “This is going to be a tough road trip. Every one of these teams is right there in the standings with us so they’re all going to be gearing up for us.”
Tippett views division games as four-point games because you can earn two points while denying the other team those two points the schedule.
“It’s an important trip,” he said.
DAUPHIN’S DECISION
Laurent Dauphin tried to nap on the day of his first NHL game Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. It didn’t work.
“It was a very fun day for me — an exciting day and a nervous day,” Dauphin said. “I couldn’t wait to go on the ice so the day was long.”
Dauphin saw 9:33 of ice time in that game. His recall from Springfield (AHL) was due to injuries to centers Martin Hanzal and Boyd Gordon, but it was also a reward for strong play. Tippett has always liked Dauphin’s two-way game and the 6-foot, 180-pound center has adjusted well to his first season of hockey.
“There are a lot of injuries there so I am playing PK, power play and 5 on 5,” said Dauphin, who has five goals and 10 points for the Falcons. “It’s good for my development.”
Dauphin’s commitment to that continuing development was in question this year at Coyotes training camp. He left camp and admitted that he needed some time to think about his future.
“I wanted to take a step back and look at it; be with my family,” he said. “It wasn’t about hockey. It was about life in general.
“I think I made the right decision.”
Dauphin will likely return to Springfield once Hanzal and Gordon return.
INJURY UPDATE
Hanzal (lower body) and Gordon (upper body) both skated with the team on Friday before the Coyotes flew to Edmonton. Tippett does not expect either to play against the Oilers but hopes they will play at some point on the trip.
Goalie Mike Smith also skated for the first time since his abdominal surgery on Dec. 15 but his 8-10 week timeline for recovery has not changed.
LOOSE PUCKS
— Before Thursday’s game against the Jets, Arizona’s defensemen had scored 25 of the team’s 100 goals, the second most in the NHL behind Nashville’s 30. Oliver Ekman-Larsson added to that total with a goal against the Jets, giving the blue line 14 goals in its last 19 games.
— Goalie Louis Domingue has put up drastically different numbers in his four starts vs. his two relief appearances this season. In four starts, he has stopped 126 of 134 for a .940 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against average. In two relief appearances, he has allowed five goals on 32 shots (.844). When asked what he made of that disparity in what is clearly a small sample size, Tippett said: “Start him more.”
Coyotes at Oilers
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Rexall, Place, Edmonton, Alberta
TV: None
Radio: ESPN 620 AM
Starting goalies: Coyotes — Louis Domingue. Oilers – Cam Talbot.
Injury report: Coyotes — G Mike Smith (IR, abdominal surgery) and RW Joe Vitale (IR, concussion symptoms) are out. C Martin Hanzal (IR, lower body) and C Boyd Gordon (IR, upper body) are out but close to returning. Oilers — C Connor McDavid (collarbone) is practicing with the team but there is still no timeline for his return. Former Coyotes F Rob Klinkhammer (ankle) is expected to return. F Nail Yakupov (IR, ankle), Iiro Pakarinen (upper body), D Oscar Klefbom (IR, finger), D Andrew Ference (IR, undisclosed) are out.
Scouting the Oilers: Edmonton is just 3-6-1 after a brief surge had lifted it into the thick of the Pacific Division race. Edmonton’s problem is familiar one. The Oilers have allowed 119 goals. Only Columbus and Calgary have allowed more. … F Taylor Hall leads the team with 15 goals and 40 points. … Since Dave Tippett became the Coyotes coach in 2009-10, Arizona is 21-2-3 against Edmonton.
