Desert Dogs-a-Howlin - March

 The penultimate month of the season saw the Coyotes fighting for a playoff spot in the Pacific Divison, the division title was also within reach.

v Flames (L)
The mantra of the Coyotes this season has been 'Hockey the Hard Way' throught the previous games the Coyotes have playedit dangerously at times and the run had to come to an end at some point! Along the way the Coyotes have been able to haul themselves out of some tough spots, their first period form has been poor. Against the Flames this ability came to an end, 3-0 down after the first period the Coyotes rallied in the second through Torres and Rozisval but an Iginla empty nett goal in the last minute condemned the Yotes to their first regulation loss in 12 games.
v Blue Jackets (L)
After the disappointing loss to Calgary the Coyotes had a chance for redemption against the lowly Blue Jackets. Coming into the game the Blue Jackets were buoyed by the news that star player Rick Nash would not be leaving, it would be Nash who would haunt the Yotes this game. Continuing the theme of their poor starts, the Coyotes found themselves 2-0 down early in the second before Whitney and Korpikoski goals hauled them level. The Coyotes poor third period would see them concede 3 goals and the game, condemning them to a loss and an 0 and 2 record against the Blue Jackets.

@ Penguins (L)
The Coyotes March madness continued against the high flying Pens. Again, another poor first period saw the Coyotes 2-0 down heading into the second period. The Coyotes huffed and puffed but found Marc-Andre Fleury in scintillating form. Zybnek Michalek and Chris Kunitz put the pens ahead before Ray Whitney got his 21st goal of the season early in the third period. This set up an tense final period but the Coyotes were unable to find the game levelling goal.
@ Blue Jackets (L)
If the Coyotes wanted to ensure their participation in the post season they need to shake out of this slump. February was awesome, March, very much less so! The Coyotes travelled to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets for the second time in a few days. The symptom of this poor form has been the Yotes poor starts in games. Tonight would be no different, in just 4 minutes the Blue Jackets were two goals to the good. Vermett did get one back for the Coyotes before the end of the first period. Derek MacKenzie put the Blue Jackets two clear before Yandle reduced the arrears again. This left the Coyotes with one period to get leveller, sadly this did not come and the Phoenix poor run was extended again.
v Wild (L-SO)
The Coyotes just cant catch a break so far in March, they started this game against the Wild in, predictably, slow fashion. By the end of the first period the Wild were 2 goals up through Brodziak and Kampfer. No goals came in the second period but the Coyotes dug deep and pulled the game back in the third through Torres and Korpikoski forcing overtime. At least the Coyotes would get some points from the game and get the scoreboard ticking again. Dany Heatley secured the extra point for the Wild and the Coyotes finally got moving in March.
v Sharks (W)
The Coyotes needed to bounce back and get going in March, the Sharks would provide tough opposition. The Coyotes bounced back in some style, Mike Smith got his fifth shutout of the season and goals from Mikkel Boedker, Michael Stone and Raffi Torres ensure the Phoenix got a morale boosting 3-0 win. The win meaning so much more as it came against division opposition. Coming on from the SO loss against the Wild this win gave the Phoenix some much needed momentum.

v Predators (L-SO)
The Coyotes-Predators games so far have been epic encounters, the latest instalment at the Jobing arena was far far different. Both teams traded goals and ended the 60 minutes of regulation tied at 4 a piece. For the second time in the month of March the Coyotes went to a shoot-out, this time against the league leading Pekka Rinne. Rinne stopped Whitney, Vrbata and Boedker to give the Predators the extra point. Disappointing to loos the game the Coyotes did, at least, get something from it to keep their Pacific Division challenge alive.

@ Canucks (W)
When your struggling for form and scratching for wins the Rogers Arena in Vancouver is a difficult place to go! The Coyotes, in their own way, obviously didn't see it that way! With Vrbata lost to illness and then, allowing the Canucks a two goal head start the fight back and eventual win for the Coyotes was all the more impressive. In the end Antoine Vermettes PowerPlay goal in the third period would be the winner. The Coyotes began their short Canadian road trip in style.

@ Flames (L)
Next up for the Yotes was the Calgary Flames. Sadly the high from the win against the Canucks would not carry over into this game. In fact the Flames pounded the Coyotes in this game and ran out 4-1 winners. Jerome Iginla gave the Flames the lead before Ekman-Larsson pulled one back for Phoenix. Matt Stajan and an Alex Tanguay short handed effort killed off the Coyotes and gave the Flames the win. With the Flames being in the western conference the loss could well hurt the Coyotes come playoff time.
@ Oilers (W-SO)
This game would be Dave Tippett's 400th game in charge and the Coyotes would ensure it would be a happy marker. Throughout early March the Coyotes have made a habit of falling behind in the first period, this game they fell behind in the second period to goals from Eberle and Hemsky in just about 30 seconds. Thankfully, the ingrained fighting spirit of the Coyotes saw them come back into the game in the final session. Whitney and Torres, again, stepping up to force overtime. Nothing came from the extra session but the Coyotes won the game in the shootout.

@ Stars (L-SO)
The coyotes trip to the state of Texas saw the Coyotes take on another division rival in the Stars. After getting a win against the Sharks earlier in the month this would give the Coyotes a chance to make a real push for top spot. The prize for the Coyotes was to retain top spot in the division and it would take that fighting spirit again for the Coyotes. Trailing the Stars 3-1 after two periods Ekman-Larsson and Whitney brought the Coyotes level. Kari Lehtonen stopped all five shots the Coyotes had in the overtime period and, and for the fourth time in a month the Coyotes were headed for a shootout. Sadly, despite winning in a shootout against the Oilers, the Stars prevailed this time!
v Avalanche (W)
In a sign of how tight the race in the west is, at the start of the game the Coyotes were on the outside of the playoff race looking in. But come the end of the game the Coyotes went from ninth to third with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. For most of March the Coyotes habit has been to make a slow start and recover, this time it was the Coyotes who made the better start. Towards the end of the second period the Coyotes were 3 goals to the good through markers from Langkow, Chipchura and Torres. The men from Phoenix had to fight off an Av's comeback during the thrid period but were able to seal the win.

@ Sharks (L-SO)
Another important division match up saw all the goals scored in the first 25 minutes of the game. Phoenix and San Jose traded goals until they were tied on 3 a piece. In a show of how tight the division has been, regulation couldn't separate them and neither could overtime. The game would require another shootout to decide the extra point. For Phoenix Boedker and Whitney tried but had their efforts saved and Handzus and Clowe scored for the Sharks giving the men from San Jose the extra point.

v Blues (L)
The Blues may have been stuttering in recent games but they are hot in the NHL this season, this game versus the Blues would also see Shane Doan sit out his final game of his suspension. To add to the struggle Vrbata and three other first team players were missing through injury, so the stars were not quite in alignment for the Coyotes. In the end Elliot in goal for St Louis was outstanding and the Blues were just too hot for Phoenix as they secured a win and moved above the Rangers in the Presidents Cup race.

v Sharks (W)
It's games against the Sharks that the Coyotes needs to win, especially as the pacific division is so tight every point is vital. The Coyotes March has been a little up and down so far but they have managed to grab points from a few losses this month. Going into this game Vrbata had been struggling with illness and been in a scoring slump. With Mike Smith having a storming game against the Sharks, banishing that debut loss to San Jose. Vrbata bounced right back with two goals in a 2-0 win for Phoenix. Both assisted by Ray Whitney to put him on 999 career points in the NHL. The Coyotes are now and amazing 29-1-0 in games after leading going into the final session.

v Ducks (W)Ray Whitney is proving to be one of the most important acquisitions in the Coyotes history! Released, bought out and waived during his 19 year career he is still going strong at the age of 39. The game against the Ducks saw him cross another milestone in his career, his 1,000th NHL point. A dominant Coyotes took the lead in the first period and sealed the deal in the second! The Coyotes special teams doing the damage with three goals in the second. Ray Whitney got the 1,000th point with an assist and then his 1,001st with a goal. Whitneys marker and Mike Smith's shutout got the Coyotes another valuable win.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game Seven

So it was to be, the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs would go the distance! After the Pens win in Game 6 at the Mellon it was back to the Joe and, in front of 20,000+ fans Lord Stanleys Mug would be won!

You would expect the Wings to win on home ice and retain the cup, but as you all will know Playoff Hockey changes everything!

After a couple of early chances it was the Pens who came closest to scoring in the opening period. With Kennedy picking up a loose puck in the neutral zone, he skated in on Osgood only for the puck to hit the side of the net, this didn't deter Kennedy who rounded the net and slid the puck to Staal. Osgood once again came up big to keep the score at 0-0. Then at 8mins ish, the sweetest mid ice hit you will see, Talbot is breaking into the neutral zone with the puck and head down (big no no!) and Kronwall comes across and absolutely levels Talbot!

Into the second and Pittsburgh got the early break, unfortunately Brad Stewart will want that back. Rounding the net he attempts to clear the puck up the middle of the ice (another no no!) only for his pass to be intercepted by Talbot who slides it through the 5 hole! Both teams continued to trade chances through the second period, with both goalies standing tall. Then with 10 minutes on the clock Talbot and Kennedy advancing on Osgood, what followed was a shot of the highest accuracy and Talbot shot the Pens into a 2-0 lead. Game on!

As you would expect the Wings would come at the Pens at the beginning of the third, with the Wings laying siege to Fleurey's goal. The Wings would have to wait until 6mins left on the clock before they scored. The puck was down low and worked to the point, a quick pass across the blue line saw Ericsson unleash an absolute howitzer into Fleurey's net! Needless to say its nearly all Detroit at this stage, then with 2min 12 seconds on the board, Kronwall released a short wrister and, the crowd went silent.........Ding.......it hits the crossbar! A Ding so loud the whole of Detroit must have heard! The last chances fell to the Wings with 6 seconds to go and with an empty net, but the Pens stood firm and won the Stanley Cup!

Cue elation on one bench and utter misery on the other, this is what Playoff hockey is all about!

Conn Smythe Tropy went to: Evgeni Malkin

Then the moment every player dreams of, Sidney Crosby becomes the youngest captain to lift the Stanley Cup!



Pittsburgh Celebrations:



So that's it for hockey's 2008/09 season, roll on September when it all starts again!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game Six

Well after the 5-0 drubbing in game five it was up to the Pens to save the playoffs and come up with a win and force a game seven back in Detroit. Thankfully they did, so lets recap game six!

(some of you may well have noticed im posting this late, my excuse is being at the Download Festival all weekend!)

The Wings rolled into the Mellon with the chance to win the cup, coming off the back of annihilating the Pens in Game 5 confidence must have been high in the Detroit camp. Im sure most of the players would have preferred to be on the verge of lifting the cup in the Joe, but hey a Stanley Cup win is sweet no matter where it happens!

The first clear cut chance came to the Wings with Zetterberg free on in the hashmarks only to come up against an inspired Fleurey in the Pens net. with just a minute and a half left on the period Zetterberg was, once again, found on his own in front of the Pens net, and once again Fleurey came up big and denied the him!

Early in the second Staal managed to poke check the puck round a rushing Detroit defence man and rush 2 on 1 to Osgood's net, with his fellow attacker Staal was able to take one shot, get the rebound and put the puck in the back of the net. Advantage Pittsburgh! To give themselves a chance of forcing a game seven the Penguins upped the ante and started laying waste to some Detroit bodies! The Detroit attack seemed no existent in the second period, then with less than two minutes to go, that man Zetterberg is homing in on Fleurey only to hit the post. Then a minute later Fedetenko is found in front of Osgood only for Chirs to come up big to deny the Pens extending their lead!

Into the third, and the Wings know what they need to do to win the cup! Things got even tougher when, after 5 minutes, the Mellon explodes as the Pens go 2-0 up! Kennedy on the post hacking away forces the puck into Osgood's net. Then, its as if the Wings knew, with 12mins on the clock Sir Stanley's mug arrives in the arena and the Wings finally get on the board. With the puck in the Pens zone, the Detroit defence cycles the puck from one point to the other and after a big shot from Ericksson, Chris draper is on hand to put away the rebound. At around 9mins 50seconds im sure every Pens fan had his/her heart in their mouth. Fleurey unsighted, doesn't know where the puck is as it dribbles across the goal, a Detroit player closing in then.........and fine clearance from the Penguins defence! A championship saving moment?......possibly!
All the Pens needed was to hold on, and the last chance for Detroit came with 20 seconds left, and with an extra skater the puck is put on net. Cue an insane scramble on net the Pens hold on for the win!

So that's it the Pens forced a game 7, the holy grail of the Stanley Cup playoffs!

Game seven will get posted tomorrow, followed by The Angry Budgie on Tour - Download Special!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game Five

Game 5, tied 2 a piece, the Joe. Everyone settled in for a cracker? Oh who forgot to tell the Penguins to turn up? As a neutral I was hoping for a good close game, but the 5-0 scoreline to Detroit rather tells a different story!

A couple of early chances to each side, with the best coming to Detroit after a determined run up the wing left a Dteroit player on Fleury but the big Pens goalie stoof firm. Then the sustained Wings pressure finally resulted in a goal. Pavel Datsyuk went 2 on 2 with Clearey, and Cleary with a fairly weak shot slotted the puck home. This will be a hard goal for Pittsburgh to have conceded as they had plenty of men back to defend it!

Thins went from bad to worse in the second for Pittsburgh, following another poor line change, Chris Osgood found Hossa who stepped over the blue line to find Filppula in the centre who scored! Pittsburgh......try harder! The Detroit pressure was immense and continuous, the third goal not a surprise. If anything Kronwall should not have been allowed to skate from the corner, in front of Fleurey to score! Detroits 3rd of the period and 4th overall came courtesy of a stunning wrister from the point. Rafalski taking a couple of steps and sending the puck high to Fleurey's blocker side. A loud 'ching' and then the horn! Must admit Fleurey was unsighted by a fair few bodies in front of him! More misery was to come, Hutler received the puck on the blue line, wound up for a shot and cleverly passed to the front of the net to a grateful Zetterberg who roofed the puck! An absolute demolition in the second - game over! This would also see the end of Fleurey in this game, he was replaced for the last few minutes by Garon.

Into the third and its a case of damage limitation for the Pens! Not much else happening in the third and Osgood held on for, what could be, the most important sht out of these finals!

So a devastating game for Detroit, and one wonders what effect this will have had on the Pens and more importantly on Fleurey. All back to the Mellon for the deciding game, will it be a Detroit win, or will Pittsburgh send it back to the Joe for game 7?

Who knows!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game Four

So last thursday night saw game 4 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals in Pittsburgh, such an important game in deciding where Sir Stanley's mug will go. A Detroit win and its back to the Joe with the Wings 4-1 up in the series with a chance to lift the cup. A Pittsburgh win and the series is tied, and that game 5 at the Joe becomes a whole new ball park.

As a fan of the NHL and of both teams, my hope was for a Pittsburgh win in game 4. Makes the series interesting for the neutral and leads, hopefully, to the holy grail of all hockey games - a game 7!

So the puck drops and Pittsburgh really need the first goal if they want to tie the series. They duly got it too, after a couple of minutes, and on the powerplay, Malkin backhands the 3rd attempt on Osgood's net and the Pens fans go wild. Both teams then traded some pretty good chances, with the Wings laying seige to Felurey's goal at one point. But the big man stacked the pads and repelled every advance. The Wings did make it onto the board before the hooter, after a poor clearing pass from inside the Pens zone, Helm picked up on the pick and wristed a perfect short over Fleurey's glove.

Things got even better for the Wings, no less than 46 seconds into the re-start, Zetterberg makes the zone rounds the net and passes to Stuart on the point, who then shoots through 3 or 4 bodies into the net. This prompted a made scoring rush in the second period. Then, on the penalty kill Staal picks the puck up on his own blue line, passes the Wings defence and with one hand fending of the Wings D man, lifts the puck sweetly over Osgood. Easily one of the best goals you will see in the Finals! The Pens would go one better when Sidney Crosby was found on the back post all alone, something you really should not let happen! Then, in addition to Staal's earlier goal, the Pens fourth was a thing of beauty! Kennedy picks up the puck in the Detroit zone and passes cross ice to Crosby who then passes back across the ice to Kennedy who slots home! Two fantastic goals worthy of a Stanley Cup Final! Scores now 4-2 Pittburgh in the second!

The third period really couldn't live up to the Second, and neither team were able to breach the defences. A little bit of frustration creeping in for the Wings throughout the period ensure the Pens would hold on to win.

So two games a piece, it seems obvious but the key really will be for the away team to become more effective. Both home pairs have been dominated by the home team, so the key to win will be for the away team to get the early goal and nullify the home support. Either way this will turn out to be a memorable final series!

2-2 and all back to the Joe for tonights game 5!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game Three

Wings 2-0 up it was down to the first game in the Mellon for the Pens to finally get going and ensure the finals don't end before they should! In most final series you would expect to win your home games, so its not too much of a surprise that the Wings did just that, and went 2-0 up in the final. So naturally you would think the Pens can make the most of the Mellon support and win their two home games to make things interesting.

Thankfully they did, winning game three by a score of 4-2, here's my take on what happened!

So in front of a full house, the crowd wearing white the Pens needed the first goal. And thanks to the Wings not clearing the zone they duly scored first! A nice one time from Talbot at the hash marks seemed to go right through Osgood in the Detroit net. Not to be outdone the Wings got themselves on the board when Fleury gave up a rebound, which fell to Zetterberg on his own with Fleury on the floor, 1-1! The Wings would go on the powerplay and after some pretty sharp passing around the Pittsburgh zone, Franzen was found on the far post who lifted it high into the Pittsburgh net. The Pens certainly didn't want to go in to the period break down a goal and thanks to Letang, the didn't. A goal which Osgood will defiantly want back, on the power play the puck was worked to Letang on the point, and in clear view of Osgood and the Detroit net let fly a fairly tame shot that seemed to fool Osgood. Not that the Pen's fans really care!

For the most part in the second each team cancelled each other out, one of the better opportunities falling to the Wings Samuelson, picking up on a Pittsburgh error he rushed free clear on goal and managed to find the post! The 'ding' easily heard in Detroit!

On to the third and it was clear from the first few minutes that the Pens wanted this game, with Crosby and Cook going close. The Pens would get the go-ahead goal when a shot from the blue line from Gonchar somehow made it through about 4 or 5 bodies past the helpless Osgood. The Mellon exploded! The Pens nearly extended the lead when Talbot broke down the left wing and managed to find the right post. With a minute to go Osgood naturally came to the bench to give the Wings the extra skater. As is sometimes the way when you pull a goalie shortly after Osgood stepped off the ice, the puck broke for Talbot who took three steps into the neutral zone and fired home into the empty net!

At the end horn Pens fans inside and outside went mental, a good game with so many hard hits going in. Thankfully the Pens won and now comes game four tonight at the Mellon. Such an important game, if Detroit win they have the chance to win Sir Stanley's mug back at the Joe. If Pittsburgh win, we carry on!

As a neutral I sincerely hope the Pens win tonight!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game Two

After the Wings well and truly outplaying the Pens in game one, it was down to the Pens to turn up and make a game of it.

Well game two in Detroit saw the frenetic play pretty much carry on from game one! Some damn good chances for both teams finally saw the Pens take the lead. With a goal worthy of any seen at the Ice Dome. Scrappy and chippy in its excellence here! At least 3 Wings D men could not stop the shear persistence of Malkin to give the Pens the lead!

The Penguins defence must be shot for the wings first goal of the game. A face off in the Pens zone is lost to Detroit, puck back to the point and a shot in on goal. The Pens defence managed to leave Helm on his tod in front of Fleury. Excellent work by Helm on the other hand, he did what he needed to do! Make life difficult for Fleury! The Wings go-ahead goal was a bit fortunate, with Marian Hossa lucky to get away with a slashing call. Even so Holdstrom was again the man on net creating problems, and with Fleury on his chest it was a fairly simple goal for Filppula.

The Pens needed to get into the game, and what better start to the third period than having Sidney Crosby on the net all alone. Somehow Osgood came up big and denied the Pens captain. Now how big could that miss be, well pretty big as it turns out! As the Wings went up the other end, and with a bit of a weak shot from Abdelkader made it 3-1. Fleury will want that one back, a bouncing puck and a bit of a cricket bat attempt somehow finds its way above Fleury's glove hand and in to the net.

So ended the game with a bit of frustration, Malkin on the net in the face of Osgood resulted in a bit of fire from the Pens and a slight ruckus!

On to game 3, which for those who keep up to date will already know the score! Ill work on my post for tomorrow!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs - Game One

As the domestic season is now at an end, eyes turn to North America for the annual battle for Sir Stanley's mug. The final show down after a mammoth regular season pits the 2008 finalists against each other one more time. Detroit v Pittsburgh a battle of two historic NHL franchises.

May 30th saw game one in Detroit, and what a cracker! Both teams flying from the first puck drop, no inch given no strength spared. Some frightening hits going in at the Joe! The game itself was played at a pace worthy of the final. Eventually Detroit would win game one by a score of 3-1. To be fair Detroit edged the game, however were very fortunate in at least two of the goals rebounding rather strangely, and favourably to a Detroit stick.

Despite all this the Pens did get on the board and were able to create there own offence to worry the Wings. A fantastic crowd of 20,066 at the Joe created an atmosphere only seen in Cup hockey.

I know game two happened sunday night, but ill work on that post in readiness for tomorrow. In the mean time head on over to NHL.com and check out the highlights!