Three Goals: The magic number for the Coyotes

If you look at the Arizona Coyotes’ record a pattern begins to emerge. If the Coyotes are held to two or fewer goals then they have a record of 0-17-5, while if they score more than two their record is 28-6-3.

On the surface, this makes perfect sense when you think about it. You need to score more than the other team to win games, so the more goals the better.

Unfortunately, the Coyotes have been limited to two or fewer goals far too many times this season. The Coyotes have been limited to two or fewer in 37% of their games this year and they have yet to win a single game.

Last season the Coyotes were limited to two or fewer goals in 43 games so they have already improved on last season. In those 43 games, the Coyotes had a record of 5-31-7, which shows that the Coyotes are not winning the same tight games.

It makes sense that the Coyotes have had more difficulties in the tight games this season. Scoring is up around the league making it harder to win 1-0 or 2-1. Coyotes’ goaltender Darcy Kuemper has also been limited to just 25 games this season.

In their last fourteen games, the Coyotes have been limited to two or fewer in eight games. Their record doing that span is 3-7-4, and that record is the reason the Coyotes have struggled to maintain a playoff spot.

While the Coyotes’ offense has been inconsistent this season, it is better than last season. Through 59 games the Coyotes have 171 goals for compared to 154 at this same point last season.

The Coyotes took steps to correct their offensive deficiencies this past offseason with the acquisition of Phil Kessel for Alex Galchenyuk and P. O. Joseph. Kessel, unfortunately, hasn’t added as many goals as the team was hoping for, although he is having a much better season than Galchenyuk.

The midseason acquisition of Taylor Hall has also helped the Coyotes. He is 8-12-20 in 24 games and his frequent linemate Conor Garland is set to be the first Coyote to hit the twenty-goal plateau this season.

As the season comes to the end the Coyotes are going to need to work hard to get more consistent offense. Key to that is going to be keeping up the pressure when they get their second goal.

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The Coyotes will be facing off against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals later this week. Ovechkin has already scored 40 goals this season and the Capitals aren’t likely to be limited to just a goal.

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