ARIZONA COYOTES

‘Yotes Notes: Coyotes’ grueling road schedule ends this weekend

Dec 8, 2017, 1:54 PM | Updated: 9:03 pm

Arizona Coyotes center Derek Stepan (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden K...

Arizona Coyotes center Derek Stepan (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, in Las Vegas. Vegas won 3-2 in overtime. (AP Photo/David Becker)

(AP Photo/David Becker)

It probably won’t matter in the standings, but the light at the end of the tunnel is finally in view for the Coyotes. When Arizona completes its games this weekend at Columbus and at Chicago, it will have played 21 of its 41 road games in the first 66 days of the season.

According to FOX Sports Arizona research, that will be the fewest number of calendar days in NHL history in which a team has played its first 21 road games of a season. In addition, 16 of those games were either in the Eastern or Central time zones, meaning in the first 33 games of the season, the Coyotes will have logged 22,333 miles of air travel.

The schedule has cut down on the team’s ability to practice, and it has prevented the Coyotes from establishing any sort of momentum on home ice because the stops at home have been so brief that they have felt more like stops on a trip. Three times this season, the Coyotes have returned home from long trips to play one or two games at Gila River Arena before embarking on another long trip.

“You’ve got to have reps in practice,” Tocchet said. “Young guys need reps. As much as they need physical reps, they need mental reps and that’s something that we’ve been at a disadvantage with because of our schedule.

“Hopefully, the next couple months, or at least January, we’ll have a little bit of time to get some practice time and get some reps for these guys. We’ve had our share of travel.”

Between Dec. 14 and March 3, the Coyotes will play 22 of their next 31 games at home. Add to that the return to health of defenseman Jakob Chychrun, goalie Antti Raanta and the impending return of defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and the Coyotes are almost at full strength. That confluence of events, along with a better understanding of Tocchet’s style of play, should provide a better read on what this team is capable of.

GOALIE COACH SWAP

Corey Schwab and Jon Elkin switched places in the organization last week. Schwab is now the Coyotes goaltending coach while Elkin is the prospect goaltending coach, focusing on the Tucson Roadrunners.

“We believe it’s a good fit for all involved,” Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. “Corey brings a lot of experience at the NHL level in different capacities. Jon will continue to work on developing our young goalies in Tucson.”

Both men were officially hired in July of 2015. Elkin was brought aboard to work with Mike Smith after previous goalie coach Sean Burke left the organization. Elkin has worked with Smith in the offseason for years and the move was viewed as a way to maximize Smith’s potential.

When Dave Tippett departed this summer on the eve of the NHL Draft, associate coach Jim Playfair followed suit and assistant John Slaney was assigned to the Tucson Roadrunners as an assistant, leaving Elkin as the lone holdover from the previous staff (Newell Brown was fired in April).

Elkin is only under contract through the end of the season. It’s unclear whether he will remain with the organization beyond this season. He runs a successful set of goalie schools in Toronto, and he works with a number of NHL and minor-league goaltenders including Smith, Peter Budaj and Justin Peters.

LOOSE PUCKS

— Tocchet said Raanta would likely play Saturday against the Blue Jackets in Columbus.

— Hjalmarsson did not travel with the team.

— The Coyotes loaned goalie Marek Langhamer to Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga on Friday, Chayka confirmed. Chayka said at the start of the season that Langhamer had an offer to play in the Extraliga but the team wanted to see how its prospects panned out. His departure relieves a logjam at the position and allows Adin Hill and Hunter Miska to split duties with Tucson of the American Hockey League. The Coyotes still own Langhamer’s rights.

Coyotes at Blue Jackets
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: FOX Sports Arizona Plus
Radio: ESPN 620 AM
Records: Coyotes — 7-19-5. Blue Jackets — 17-10-1.
Injury report: Coyotes — D Niklas Hjalmarsson (upper body) is day to day. Blue Jackets — Ryan Murray (upper body, IR) and D Markus Nutivaara (upper body) are day to day and could play.
Blue Jackets scouting report: The Blue Jackets are in a tightly packed group in the NHL’s best division, the Metropolitan. Columbus (35 points) is one point behind first-place New Jersey, in a four-way tie for second place. … The Blue Jackets lead the NHL in home penalty kill at 94.73 percent, having allowed two goals in 38 chances. … Columbus is in a 2-for-42 slump on the power play over the last 15 games. … Artemi Panarin leads the Jackets with 20 points. F Josh Anderson leads Columbus with 10 goals.

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

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.

3 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

Arizona Coyotes center Liam O'Brien...

Associated Press

Coyotes’ struggles in Dallas continue despite Clayton Keller stacking goals

The Dallas Stars extended their home points streak against the Coyotes to 19 games with a victory on Wednesday night.

8 days ago

‘Yotes Notes: Coyotes’ grueling road schedule ends this weekend