FGD: Parched in the Desert
Kent Wilson
February 18 2013 03:51PM
In some ways, the Phoenix Coyotes are the anti-Flames: they have a terrible ownership position, lackluster fan support, a lousy budget and next to no expectations every year. And yet, despite those obstacles, the club manages to remain competitive under the steady guidance of Don Maloney and Dave Tippett, each year pressing for a playoff position with a motley crew of apparent has-beens and misfit toys.
The Flames, on the other hand, are well-heeled, supported by, strong fanatical fanbase and has, for the better part of two decades, managed to under perform expectations (with one or two notable exceptions).
It's somewhat unfair to compare the Coyotes to an Island of misfit toys. While their on-oing ownership uh, situation, means next to no budget, the team nevertheless boasts some pretty capable players. Martin Hanzal and Radim Vrbata have combined for years to form a very strong possession duo up front for Phoenix. Hanzal is the glue guy for the team up front, a strong, two-way center whose value far exceeds his counting stats each year.
On the back-end Keith Yandle tends to get the headlines because he puts up nice offensive numbers, but the true hero is probable youngster Oliver Ekmann Larsson. Although just 21-years old, he is already an NHL veteran and taking on the best the other team hs to offer every night. He already averages a team high 25:03 per game and is poised to be one of the game's better blueliners for years to come.
The 'Yotes are currently 8th in the west and definitely one of the teams the Flames will be jousting with for a playoff spot this year. A win tonight would go a long to way to making that possible.
The Line-up
After two periods of...well, not much, Bob Hartley mixed his lines up again and settled on these combinations in the third frame yesterday. It seemed to work too, as the Flames scored 3 goals and outchanced Dallas 7-1 in the process.
- Cammalleri - Tanguay - Iginla
- Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
- Hudler - Horak - Cervenka
- Comeau - Begin - Jackman
- Giordano - Bouwmeester
- Wideman - Brodie
- Butler - Sarich
- Taylor
Danny Taylor gets his first NHL start with the Flames, an honor well earned by his strong play over the last two seasons in the AHL. It's impossible to know if he will be able to transfer that success to the big leagues, but it's nice to see him at least get a chance.
Anton Babchuk pulls the short straw on the back-end, and for good reason...he's just not an NHL caliber defender at even strength.
The new top line featuring both Cammalleri and Iginla makes sense, although that trio wasn't really part of the Flames come-back in Texas yesterday. Im not sure they even generated a single chance at 5on5 in the third period, in fact. It's better than Jarome skating with Comeau at least and will make even more sense if Hartley can somehow give them the high ground.
The Opposition
Like the Flames, the Coyotes kind of have two or three second/third lines rather than one true offensive or power unit.
- Doan - Vermette - Boedker
- Korpikoski - Hanzal - Sullivan
- Moss - Gordon - Chipchura
- Bissonette - Torres - Vrbata
- Michalek - Ekman-Larsson
- Klesla - Yandle
- Summers - Rundblad
- Smith
Hanzal's line will be the "erasure" unit, so expect Tanguay and Iginla to see a lot of them. I don't know what vrabat is doing on a line with Bissonette, but I doubt that lasts. He's the teams leading scorer after all.
Goaltending has been part of the Coyotes secret sauce for getting into the post-season the last few years, but this season Mike Smith has been below mediocre with an .897 SV%. He's probably better than that, although I don't expect him to match his glowing numbers from last year either.
Sum it up
The Coyotes and Flames come from very different places as organizations, but end up jammed together in the middle of the western conference nonetheless. The come from behind victory against the Stars was a good step forward last night, but the Flames will need more of the same in Phoenix tonight if they are to climb out of the basement.
Another snoozer tonight. Iginla doesn't make a difference when he plays, nothing since he fought a French rookie after Warrener called him out.
Just 4 scoring chances all period so far. All by Flames, two of them on the PP.
Fun fact... JBo is only 2 goals shy of matching his best as a Flame.
With the reemergence of both Matty and JBo this season, does Butter ever get another NHL coaching gig?
I hope not
Chances were 5-1 Flames in the second. Neither team had a true grade-a chance in that one.
Well, the last 25 seconds were pretty entertaining.
Only if he's coaching one of the other NW division teams, we need all the help we can get.
The most worthwhile event of the night.
I didn't see the first goal. What happen?
So Jackman and Sarich score to win the game, right? Right?
Crappy one there
Man. Flames just can't get through a game without a low percentage shot going in against them.
K.. That was a bad one for Danny
Sometimes I think that if I don't watch the game, the Flames will win. And if I do watch the game, they don't win.
Sure, it's a superstition with only absolutes - but I must go now, the Flames need me.
To turn it off. :(
Flames are 15/50 in the face off circle tonight... That's never a good stat.
Good thing they just put a guy on waivers who was good at taking faceoffs.......wait a minute....
Feel bad for Taylor in this game, somehow this lack of offense will be blamed on him cause he's the backup and he'll never see the NHL again.
Absolutely dominated!
Just painted the living room walls. Think I will watch them dry. That's seems more enjoyable than watching this game. No wonder there is no fans in Pheonix, who would pay money to watch this.
@John Deere Green
Simmer and I agree with you.
Flames don't have the legs in the third. Going to be real tough to come back.
I feel bad for Taylor. The 2nd goal was a stinker but he's probably been the best Flames on the ice tonight..
Turn out the lights...the party's over
It looked like Cammy or Wideman knocked the puck into their own net.
And that's the game.
Iggy's line has been in hibernation since the first. They haven't managed a single scoring chance since about 8:50 of that period.
Flames laid an egg tonight. Can't put this on Taylor.
And this is why this team will struggle mightily to reach the playoffs. Too inconsistent.
Letting a Dave Tippett coached team get ahead early in a game is never a good thing if you are looking for an entertaining game. The first two periods were dreadful to watch. Just like Dallas when he was coaching there. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for the Flames to play in this game.
Still you would think the Flames could muster a goal or two for Taylor. Down 3-0 though I expect they will mail it in now.
Whats with us getting kicked out of the face offs all night?
I dont expect the Flames to win every game. But nothing has changed. One game their world beaters. The next game their average. The next they are absolutley dreadful. There is one thing that is constant however, managements/ownerships direction.
Gotta say, Jarome's really struggled recently, but Tanguay has had an awful night this evening too.
@schevvy
Agreed, but the million dollar question is why are they inconsistent? They aren't talented enough nor do they have the horses to get to the playoffs. They cannot elevate their level like Phoenix and Nashville can.
Iginla is invisible again tonight. Its depressing to watch.
Also what is with this team having so much trouble getting above .500? It was the same last year. Strange
4th line has easily been the best line. Which is bad
That was so boring I stopped watching in the first.
Does intellectual honesty only apply to players making less than say 3-4 million dollars? Just curious.
If this was someone's first live NHL game they may never want to go to a second one.
on positive side, Flames 4th line had a pretty good game.
Sigh. My kingdom for a goaltender.
Well, Joey Mac starts Monday, no question
Too bad, we are a team that eats them up. Goodbye taylor it was brief.
Iginla's line seems to spend most of their time chasing the puck instead of playing with it.
Hekyl and Jekyl teams Simmer?
No need for Nyquil tonight. That game just put me to sleep.
Chances were 7-5 PHX in the third.
16 - 15 overall for PHX.
Feaster its time for a quick rebuild.
Keep
Hudler Cervenka Backlund Sven Brodie Glencross
Everyone else is expendable
I had hopes that this team had turned a corner this year and we'd see some exciting hockey and some games that were won, rather than lost, in the latter stages. Alas, tonight looked like the same old Flames doing the same old thing. Second night of a back-to-back or not, this was just Yuck.
Sometimes Simmer should simply say nothing at all. He is so monotone and boring in the comments he makes.
Didn't see any of the game and apparently didn't need to. Really flames ownership, time to pull your heads out of you a$$e$ and get off of the "lets sign iggy til he retires " bs and give the fans something to cheer about. Putting this schizophrenic group of old players that can't put more than one win at a time together is old news and I thought it would end with Darryl's firing. Here we are with rehashed trash like tanguay and cammi and nothing to show for it. So we re-sign iggy for what, his personal achievements? He's not given us a cup and he's old!!!! This team sucks bad!
This team is very consistent. As soon as we hit .500, I guarantee a stinker & a loss. You can play proline based on this consistent trend. I was really hoping for a win for Taylor. I am so sick of this old core, same old win one lose one, fall to a point of blowing things up & then they start to play & get into exciting contention only to fall to dismal mediocrity. Somebody pleeeease change this channel.