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Game Preview
It has been a long time since the Arizona Coyotes have been in the postseason. You almost wanna forgive them for the poor showing on Wednesday. Almost, but not quite.
In their first game of a seven-game series against the Colorado Avalanche, the Coyotes fell flat on their face. They were able to keep the Avalanche off the scoreboard for the first two and a half periods, but only through some great goaltending from Darcy Kuemper.
So far, the Coyotes have had issues with getting outshot by their opponents. Shots on goal aren’t everything, and it the Coyotes were otherwise controlling the game it wouldn’t be as big an issue. But the Coyotes were thoroughly outplayed for most of the game.
The Coyotes were able to keep Colorado off the board until it all collapsed midway through the third period. At points, it looked like the Coyotes could maybe get the win if they scored a lucky goal and continued to keep Colorado from finding the back of the net.
But when the Avalanche scored their first it seemed like the game was over. The two others they scored were just the final nails in the coffin.
After the game coach Tocchet didn’t go easy on his team in the press conference.
"It's a 0-0 hockey game, and we get a power play, and the power play stinks." - Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) August 13, 2020
Rick Tocchet: "I'm just disappointed in this club because this is a big opportunity and we had a terrible practice yesterday. I really don't want to get into it any more. The players know how I feel. You guys saw it. Darcy Kuemper kept us in it and that's basically it."
— Richard Morin (@ramorin_azc) August 13, 2020
If nothing else the game was further proof of Darcy Kuemper’s skill.
It is only one game though, and the Coyotes could still turn things around. They are going to need a much better performance today though.
Players to watch
Arizona: Derek Stepan - Stepan led the forwards in time on ice and is one of the veterans that the team is going to lean on during this series. The Coyotes need their best players to be their best and that is going to include Stepan.
Colorado: Nathan MacKinnon - MacKinnon had two assists in the last game, and played 18:22 including 2:20 on the power play.
Injuries
Arizona: Antti Raanta (questionable, head), Nick Schmaltz (neck)
Colorado: Colin Wilson (lower body)
Puck Drop
Today’s game in the Edmonton bubble will be at 11:00 am Arizona time. It will air on Fox Sports Arizona, Altitude Sports, and the NHL Network and Fox Sports 910 AM.