Tom Polakis
Next expansion
Sounds like a number of people missed the game. Here are a few highlights, Coyotes style. The arena was about 60% full, over half of them Penguins fans who love their city so much that they moved out of it. The Pens enjoyed four consecutive power plays in the first half of the game. With a first unit that has Letang, Crosby, Malkin, and Kessel, you'd think they would toy with the Coyotes, but the PK unit was excellent, killing them all. The Pens didn't realize that the secret was to commit a penalty of their own. The Yotes panicked to even hold the zone on the PP, which led to an easy 2-on-1 goal against. The next Pens goal could be seen coming when it was deep in their own zone. One thing you wouldn't get from watching on TV was Malkin perfectly anticipating the transition, and streaking up the left side as the turnover happened.
With the Coyotes down 2-0, and us threatening to leave at 3-0, none other than Nick Cousins scored a beauty very late in the second while wearing one glove. Walsh had a rare good moment in the interview when he called it a video game goal. Midway through the third, Max Domi partly atoned for his three penalties by scoring an easy one from between the circles. In another typical Coyotes moment, they almost went ahead when the goal sat in the crease for two seconds, and everybody by Murray knew where it was. The rest of the third period was actually entertaining, and the Pens didn't carry play until the fire drill that was the last minute. Malkin took everyone on a tour of the zone until putting a pass on Olli Matta's stick. He put a harmless shot wide of the short side from the point, and Raanta managed to deflect it into the net. This, after another solid game. Coyotes hockey.
Three stars:
3) Concession stand behind Section 215 - the entire upper bowl has become trash, with their baked potato with pulled pork being the exception
2) Equipment manager Stan Wilson - never gets the attention he deserves
1) Patrick Lauder - always a perfect rendition of the Anthems, whether American or Canadian
With the Coyotes down 2-0, and us threatening to leave at 3-0, none other than Nick Cousins scored a beauty very late in the second while wearing one glove. Walsh had a rare good moment in the interview when he called it a video game goal. Midway through the third, Max Domi partly atoned for his three penalties by scoring an easy one from between the circles. In another typical Coyotes moment, they almost went ahead when the goal sat in the crease for two seconds, and everybody by Murray knew where it was. The rest of the third period was actually entertaining, and the Pens didn't carry play until the fire drill that was the last minute. Malkin took everyone on a tour of the zone until putting a pass on Olli Matta's stick. He put a harmless shot wide of the short side from the point, and Raanta managed to deflect it into the net. This, after another solid game. Coyotes hockey.
Three stars:
3) Concession stand behind Section 215 - the entire upper bowl has become trash, with their baked potato with pulled pork being the exception
2) Equipment manager Stan Wilson - never gets the attention he deserves
1) Patrick Lauder - always a perfect rendition of the Anthems, whether American or Canadian