At the beginning of this season, if someone asked you who would win a playoff series between the Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes, you'd likely laugh at the idea that Phoenix would have been able to squeak in to an eighth-seed position.
Because, back then, the only way one could fathom these teams meeting in the playoffs would be as a No. 1 vs. No. 8 match-up.
Hmm, what do they say happens when we assume?
Despite all odds, the Phoenix Coyotes have not only made the playoffs, but capped off the best season in their history (including when they were the Winnipeg Jets) by securing 107 points and a No. 4 playoff seed.
What Dave Tippett (who, by the way, represents one of the worst firings of an NHL coach in recent memory; how'd that work out for you, Dallas?) has been able to do with this team, an odd mix of over-the-hill veterans and wide-eyed youngsters, should more than guarantee him Coach of the Year honors.
Aside from coaching, Phoenix has benefited from perhaps the most consistent and solid goaltending performance of the year from Ilya Bryzgalov. The Russian net-minder started the year by imitating a brick wall on ...
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Article written by Matt Hutter
2010 NHL Playoff Prediction: Detroit Red Wings Will Put an End to Phoenix’s Rise
April 12th, 2010 by Matt Hutter Leave a reply »
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