GDT: Game 45: Phoenix Coyotes @ Winnipeg Jets 1-13-14| 6PM | FSA +

[ClassLessCoyote]

@

28 Lauri Korpikoski - 11 Martin Hanzal (A) - 17 Radim Vrbata
36 Rob Klinkhammer - 50 Antoine Vermette - 18 Dave Moss
19 Shane Doan (C) - 63 Mike Ribeiro - 89 Mikkel Boedker
24 Kyle Chipchura - 14 Jeff Halpern - 34 Tim Kennedy

3 Keith Yandle (A) - 53 Derek Morris
23 Oliver Ekman-Larsson - 2 David Rundblad
16 Rostislav Klesla - 26 Mike Stone

#1 Greiss
#41 Smith

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[Longwayfromhome]

Let's bounce back! Going to be a tough one though. Jets are going to play their harts out in front of their new coach. Difficult game despite their 5(?) straight losses.

Wonder wich goalie will get the start? My bet is on Smith.

 

[Mosby]

I wonder if the folks in Manitoba would be annoyed if the Coyotes decided to have a throwback jersey night tonight?

Perhaps we can package David Rundblad and Dale Hawerchuk's Ring of Honor banner for Evander Kane?



In all seriousness, tonight's keys to victory, Tyson Nash style:

1. Keep it to 2 - It's may be a stretch to ask Smitty for a shutout or a single goal against, but keeping it to under 3 greatly improves our chances. Get pucks at their net. If you think Smith's stats and contract are out of whack, have a look at Pavelec.

2. Will to Win - Just three blocked shots last game. That's embarrassing. The Ducks must have averaged three blocked shots per player. It's time to dust off Coyotes Hockey and play a textbook road game.

3. No Go for Mo - The Jets will come out flying under new coach Maurice. Let's shut them down early and score first. We all know our record under Tipp when we draw first blood: 128-19-22.

 

[lanky]

18 years of cheering for the Phoenix Coyotes and tonight I get to see them live for the second time. Can't wait!

 

[Longwayfromhome]

@azc_mclellan: New look for #Coyotes today: 36-50-89/19-11-17/28-63-18/12-14-29/3-53/23-26/16-6.


Sigh...

Looks like Schlemko over Rundblad. I mean, is there any better time to give the kid a chance? We have been playing like ****, and Schlemko was terrible the last time he played. This might be Runblads chance and he aint even playing. Tipp has tried every combination possible without letting him play. Its beyond me...

But if they win i might have to take it all back.

 

[Mosby]

18 years of cheering for the Phoenix Coyotes and tonight I get to see them live for the second time. Can't wait!

Enjoy! Hope you'll be wearing Yotes colors

 

[awfulwaffle]

Just win. Just win. I don't want to destroy my tv, but I've contemplated it lately.

 

[ParisSaintGermain]

Winnipeg with a new coach and the Coyotes on a bad stretch but willing to bounce back: This game could go anywhere.

Lets hope for the best!

 

[ParisSaintGermain]

18 years of cheering for the Phoenix Coyotes and tonight I get to see them live for the second time. Can't wait!

This must be considered as major mojo for the Coyotes. Enjoy!

 

[cobra427]

@azc_mclellan: New look for #Coyotes today: 36-50-89/19-11-17/28-63-18/12-14-29/3-53/23-26/16-6.


Sigh...

Looks like Schlemko over Rundblad. I mean, is there any better time to give the kid a chance? We have been playing like ****, and Schlemko was terrible the last time he played. This might be Runblads chance and he aint even playing. Tipp has tried every combination possible without letting him play. Its beyond me...

But if they win i might have to take it all back.

Schlemko had 5 blocked shots last game he played, he was not terrible and he plays defense. If Runblad did either better he would be playing...

 

[Mosby]

Interesting that Z made the trip (won't be in the lineup tonight). It's only a two-day trip too, so he must be closer to returning than we think.

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

Not that we're getting to "must win" games, but this one is close as we don't want to continue the losing streak and we need to turn the fortunes around.

rather than Chip/Halpern/Biz, we might be better off fielding a more offensive 4th line of Lessio/Miele/Biz

I know what you say about Biz, (and I was his biggest naysayer) but when he's played this year, he's hitting and actually is a better cycler than both Chip and Halpern.

 

[ck26]

18 years of cheering for the Phoenix Coyotes and tonight I get to see them live for the second time. Can't wait!

Only 22 tickets on StubHub for a Monday night game, I guess our intrepid little Coyotes are more popular in WPG than I realized. Hear tons of great things about the central Canada hockey scene ... who's up for the Winnipeg / Brandon / Regina / Prince Albert / Swift Current / Moose Jaw trip next season?

 

[Naych_PHX]

Doan with Czechs, alrighy. Hopefully, Doan with the checks too

 

[Vip]

Just.. Win?

 

[Plub]

Hope we lose until they realize doing the same exact thing every night isn't ****en working.

 

[albertabound]

Are you kidding me??? 24 not playing I just spent good money on tickets!!!!

Schlemko had 5 blocked shots last game he played, he was not terrible and he plays defense. If Runblad did either better he would be playing...

 

[Summer Rose]

I think I'll be physically ill if we lose this game.

It has nothing to do with it being the Jets, but with how we've been lately, I'm not sure how much more of this I can take.

 

[CC96]

Just win for once.

 

[letowskie]

@azc_mclellan: New look for #Coyotes today: 36-50-89/19-11-17/28-63-18/12-14-29/3-53/23-26/16-6.


Sigh...

Looks like Schlemko over Rundblad. I mean, is there any better time to give the kid a chance? We have been playing like ****, and Schlemko was terrible the last time he played. This might be Runblads chance and he aint even playing. Tipp has tried every combination possible without letting him play. Its beyond me...

But if they win i might have to take it all back.

Err, I'm not sure that would be the answer. They definitely need to get Rib some better line-mates than that. Korpikoski, aside from a few games where he was on, largely hasn't delivered what we hoped when we resigned him.

Schlemko isn't even playing on the right side. Not sure what's happening, but maybe DT has some personal issues with Rundblad, anything work ethic related? Anyone hearing anything from the locker room?

 

[Sinurgy]

Schlemko had 5 blocked shots last game he played, he was not terrible and he plays defense. If Runblad did either better he would be playing...

Actually he had 3 blocked shots last game but I don't disagree with the sentiment.

Schlemko isn't even playing on the right side. Not sure what's happening, but maybe DT has some personal issues with Rundblad, anything work ethic related? Anyone hearing anything from the locker room?

Schlemko is tied with Morris for third most blocked shots on the team despite playing in 2 less games. While he hasn't been a world beater, he's definitely been serviceable. The problem with Rundblad is that thus far he's been pretty one dimensional and unfortunately that one dimension hasn't been all that good (1 assist in 11 games). I think he will get better but right now it's really not THAT surprising that Schlemko is beating him out.

 

[Longwayfromhome]

Schlemko isn't even playing on the right side. Not sure what's happening, but maybe DT has some personal issues with Rundblad, anything work ethic related? Anyone hearing anything from the locker room?

It sure looks that way. DT must have a very strong reason not to play him. And if he dislikes him so much that he wont even play with the currently situation on D, then i'm not sure he'll ever play under DT. Certainly not good for any part in this mess. A prospect rotting away and both his personal development and his value in a trade is diminishing by every day he's sitting in that pressbox.

 

[letowskie]

Schlemko is tied with Morris for third most blocked shots on the team despite playing in 2 less games. While he hasn't been a world beater, he's definitely been serviceable. The problem with Rundblad is that thus far he's been pretty one dimensional and unfortunately that one dimension hasn't been all that good (1 assist in 11 games). I think he will get better but right now it's really not THAT surprising that Schlemko is beating him out.

You don't get better by sitting in the press-box. (Maybe for a game or two, to wake some player that's coasting up, not a dozen games at a time.) There is probably something more to this. Schlemko and Klesla right now are black holes in terms of the ability to move the puck effectively and be a threat from the point. That's a huge part of our problem in the last few games, getting hemmed in at key moments.

 

[Mosby]

It's nothing personal related. Tipp wants to shore up the defensive game and having to choose between Schlemko and Rundblad, the former gives the best chance to achieve that. If sure if he wanted more offense from the blueline, Rundblad would get a go.

 

[XX]

I'd like to see Yandle-DMo promoted to top pairing, with OEL and Rundblad as the second. Puck movers work well with other puck movers. It's worth a shot, at this point. Give Rundblad his fair shot for a 10 game set (How Tip evaluates everyone) with a good partner and some good minutes. If he fails, he fails. It's a question that needs answering before the deadline.

Fully expect to see Schlemko flailing about out there tonight.

It's nothing personal related. Tipp wants to shore up the defensive game and having to choose between Schlemko and Rundblad, the former gives the best chance to achieve that. If sure if he wanted more offense from the blueline, Rundblad would get a go.

Moving the puck out of your zone is a defensive ability. Rundblad is better at that then the guys he is being scratched for. He also hits more, somehow. The problem isn't necessarily defense but overall puck posession. I don't see how Klesla or Schlemko help you in that regard.