The 5: The most dominating matchups in the Valley’s sports scene
Dec 2, 2016, 7:00 AM | Updated: 11:20 am
The Arizona Coyotes have owned the Edmonton Oilers for the past five-plus years, an odd thing considering that they too haven’t played the most dominating brand of hockey over that span.
Nonetheless, there’s something to be said for a team or a player having such a string of success against another player or opposing team. Often times, it’s about talent. Team X is just darn good while Team Y is not. Maybe it’s just situational. Player Z’s style fits well against a specific opponent, or the feel of an arena lends comfort for that individual.
In the Valley of the Sun, there are several notable streaks and stories of success among pro and college teams. Here are The 5 most dominating matchups that come to mind in recent memory.
Coyotes hit 25-game point streak vs. Oilers
With their win Sunday, the Coyotes’ have won 21 games with four overtimes against Edmonton, the longest streak since Philadelphia went 25 games without taking an L against Los Angeles (1974-1980).
The current point streak also ties the Blackhawks’ 25-game stretch of success against the Flyers from 1942-45. The last time the Coyotes have lost to the Oilers? Back on Jan. 25, 2011.
Something brewing in Miller Park
Paul Goldschmidt has batted .500 with a .553 on-base percentage and 1.49 OPS in 16 games against the Brewers at Miller Park.
He has 64 total bases in that time, averaging out to a full circling the bases per visit to Milwaukee. He’s scored 19 runs, recorded as many RBI with seven home runs, nine doubles and 34 hits.
For his career, Goldy has batted .410 against the Brewers in 33 games, which at one point in time prompted an edit to Milwaukee’s Wikipedia entry.
Bucked in downtown Phoenix
From Feb. 21, 1987, until Jan. 17, 2013, the Phoenix Suns owned the Milwaukee Bucks in Arizona. The 24-game home winning streak began after a loss by Phoenix where Walter Davis scored 27 and Larry Nance had 21 points — and was a rebound and three dimes away from a triple-double.
The next Suns crew to give up a home loss to the Bucks wouldn’t cause anyone to be starstruck — no offense to current Suns P.J. Tucker and Jared Dudley, who were starters on that squad. Shannon Brown scored 20 points off the bench, Luis Scola started ahead of Markieff Morris, and Michael Beasley threw up 10 shots in 15 minutes.
Wildcats fear the beard
Fear the beard. The Arizona Wildcats certainly should. Arizona has dominated its basketball series against ASU with a 148-82 record since the teams first met in 1914. It has a 53-17 advantage since Lute Olson was hired in 1983. But ASU got the best of Arizona with a five-game winning streak in 2007-09 thanks to a man named James.
Herb Sendek’s crew, led by James Harden’s 19.4 points per game, bested the Wildcats with two wins in Tempe, two in Tucson and a Pac-10 Tournament victory in Los Angeles’ Staples Center in 2009. Harden dropped 27 points to eliminate a 19-13 UA squad to complete a perfect record against UA before he left for the NBA after his sophomore season.
Goldschmidt bombs Lincecum
Paul Goldschmidt has faced former Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum more than most pitchers, so there’s a decent bit of evidence that he owns the current Angels starter.
In 28 at-bats, Goldschmidt has 15 hits (.536 average), including seven home runs (that’s a homer per four at-bats) and 17 RBI. He’s been struck out five times. Arizona’s first baseman doesn’t have more than three homers against any other pitcher. He has three only on Chris Capuano.
Honorable mention:
Paul Goldschmidt’s 51-straight games reaching base against the Rockies that ended on Sept. 4, 2016; ASU hockey’s 37-game winning streak against Arizona that ended Feb. 2, 2014.