See ya next season Yotes!

Hey hockey fans....how’s the playoffs been for you??  Exciting....YES!  Unexpected.....YES!  We know as fans how some teams make it and others don’t.  Well I decided to make a blog for each team that has been eliminated.....of course this may be the only I do....who knows...but right now it’s all about the Phoenix Coyotes. 

Overall, the Yotes ended up in 6^th place in their conference and 3^rd in their division.  Their record was 43-26-13 with 99 points for the season.  The power play was 15.9% which was ranked T-23^rd in the league and the penalty kill was 78.4% which was ranked 26^th in the league for the season. 

Leaders in each category for the 2010-2011 season

Goals- 20 Shane Doan

Assists- 48 Keith Yandle

Points- 60 Shane Doan

+/- +18 Adrian Aucoin  -2 Derek Morris

PIM- 71 Paul Bissonnette

Takeaways- 46 Lee Stempniak

Giveaways- 61 Keith Yandle

FO%- 55.3% Eric Belanger

Hits- 172 Shane Doan

Blocked shots- 136 Derek Morris

Shutouts- 7 llya Bryzgalov

Shooting percentage- 18.4% Lauri Korpikoski

Here’s something interesting, the Phoenix Coyotes won all six road games in Western Canada (EDM, VAN, and CAL) for the first time in franchise history.  And Coach Dave Tippett is currently ranked 2^nd among all NHL coaches in victories since the beginning of the 2002-03 season.

The Coyotes once again had to face off the Detriot Red Wings in Round 1 in the playoffs except this time the Wings were able to defeat the Yotes in only 4 games instead of 7 (09-10’).  Here’s a look back at the games.

Game 1

Detriot wins 4-2

Coyotes scored early in the 1^st but weren’t able to take advantage of the 4 power plays they were awarded even with a 5-on-3.  During the 2^nd period is when the momentum changed and Wings scored three goals.  

-Coyotes were 0-6 on their power play while Wings were 1-3.

-Wings blocked 18 shots compared to Yotes 8

-Coyotes were 55% at the dot compared to Wings 45%

Game 2

Wings win 4-3

Wings were up 4-0 by 1:11 in the 2^nd.  Doan scored 2 PPG in the 3^rd to cut the lead 4-3 with 11:23 to play but that wouldn’t be enough to change the outcome of the game.

-Wings were 64% at the dot while Yotes were 36%

-Physical game from both teams Yotes with 38 hits and Wings 41 hits.

-Datsyuk 1G, 3A, +2 rating, 2 hits, 3 takeaways, 3 b/s, and 80% at the dot

Game 3

Wings win 4-2

The Wings scored 2 goals in the first 2:41 of the game.  The Yotes scored two power play goals to cut the lead to 4-2 but wasn’t able to catch up with 7 minutes left in the game. 

-Yotes outhit the Wings 36-27

-Yotes were -20 as a team (WOW!)

-Yotes were 2 for 3 on their power play while Wings were 0 for 4

Game 4

Wings win 6-3

It was 3-3 at the end of the 2^nd period.  Wings were able to score 3 more in the 3^rd to win the game and the series. 

-Doan had 11 hits...the most for game...Yotes with 37 and Wings with 17 hits for the game

-Wings with 39 shots on goal while Yotes had 27

Overall, the Coyotes had a great season.  Hopefully their team will stay in AZ....rumors are they are moving to Winnipeg....hopefully its just rumors. Too bad they didn’t go out fighting (hey im just saying cause they got swept) but nice to see them in the post-season.  My suggestion.....Maybe you guys need to tweek your team a bit and come out firing next playoffs (12').  See ya next season......GO YOTES!









P.S. All stats were found at NHL.com or Phoenix Coyotes website