DDB: Key Numbers to Follow

GLENDALE – The Coyotes don’t play again until Saturday
night at home against San Jose so I figured today would be
a good day for a fresh blog.

Knowing how readers love blogs with lists and/or numbers
in them, I submit the following list of seemingly random
numbers – with explanations as to why they are
significant:

95 – I think the Coyotes will need to earn around 95
points to earn a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup
Playoffs. They have 52 points now with 62 more up for
grabs over the last 31 games. Thus, to reach 95 they will
have to start winning games in bunches, not just one every
other game or so. There is little room for error but it
can be done.

4 – The number of games the Coyotes have left vs. the
Calgary Flames. Can you believe these teams have yet to
square off in the 2011-12 season with only 31 games left
on their schedules? What’s even more intriguing is that
the Coyotes and Flames are tied with 52 points apiece
after 51 games. Those four head-to-head matches will be
extremely important for both teams as they try to climb
into the playoff hunt.

11 – Defenseman Derek Morris has played 989 NHL games. I’m
no math wiz, but I’m pretty sure that means he needs to
play just 11 more to reach 1,000 for his career.

224 – This number is the number of games defenseman Keith
Yandle has played in a row. That’s right, the last time
the Coyotes played a game without Yandle on the ice was
March 22, 2009 at Anaheim. To put this feat in proper
perspective consider this: Only three players on the
team’s current roster – Shane Doan, Martin Hanzal and
Mikkel Boedker – were with the team when it last played a
game without Yandle in the lineup.

31 – Winger Ray Whitney needs 31 more points to reach
1,000 for his NHL career. That means Whitney will have to
average a point per game over the rest of the season. It’s
do-able, for sure.

1 – The number of dollars each beer, soda and/or hot dog
will cost fans at Saturday’s home game vs. San Jose. In
other words, it’s another Arizona Lottery Buck Bash.

OK, now for some quick news:

• The Coyotes practiced on Wednesday for more than an hour
– lots of compete drills and lots of skating. Afterward, I
asked Head Coach Dave Tippett to outline his strategy for
practice over this three-day break from games.

His answer: “Hard, harder and hardest.”

• The Coyotes lost center Cal O’Reilly on Wednesday when
the Pittsburgh Penguins claimed him off re-entry waivers.
O’Reilly notched two goals and three assists for the
Coyotes after coming to Phoenix in a trade with Nashville
on Oct. 28.

• Coyotes prospect Mark Visentin was named the Ontario
Hockey League’s Player of the Week last week.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Contact Dave Vest at
thedesertdogblog@phoenixcoyotes.com and follow him on
Twitter @davest4yotes.

For information on upcoming Phoenix Coyotes games, please
visit http://coyotes.nhl.com

Follow @theAdamGreen