You know who could use a win tonight? The Phoenix Coyotes that's who. Having dropped the last 5 (well, 4.5) they're not looking so hot in the playoff race. Just a little more than a week ago we were counting points to see if the Coyotes could catch the Sharks. Now they're hoping to just stay in the playoff race. The Red Wings inability to give the Coyotes much help on this trip is a pain too. After destroying the Kings 7-4 they dropped games to the Ducks and the Sharks in the next two. Come on! I thought we had an understanding here guys...

In any event the Coyotes have got to find a way to score some goals and early. The team didn't look terrible in either of the last two losses, but they also couldn't find the back of the net. Well, I suppose they eventually did against Dallas, but not until the last 5 minutes. As Dave Tippett would put it they need to stop "chasing the game." Plenty of guys have gone silent. Lee Stempniak is probably the leading candidate there, but it's been a team effort to suck. Especially when Ilya Bryzgalov has a shutout going late into the game you've gotta help the guy out. The penalties haven't helped as the kill unit has been weak. Each of the losses have come on power play goals. THe last two have been game winners in fact. The penalty numbers need to go down, but even more so when they do get the calls the PK needs to step up.

Starting Goalies

Key Players

Lee Stempniak

#22 / Right Wing / Phoenix Coyotes

Height: 6-0

Weight: 195

Born: Feb 04, 1983

HEY! YEAH YOU! HOW ABOUT YOU SCORE A GOAL FOR US TONIGHT? (His last goal was on Jan 22.)

Brian Rafalski

#28 / Defenseman / Detroit Red Wings

Height: 5-10

Weight: 194

Born: Sep 28, 1973

With 33 assists he's moving the puck to his forwards well. Playing behind Lidstrom doesn't get him much publicity, but he's not bad.

Injuries