For a team on the playoff bubble, the Phoenix Coyotes show little sense of urgency.
No desperation and the life support monitor displays a faint and distant beep.
Locked with the Dallas Stars for the final Western Conference postseason slot, the Coyotes are not playing like a team with its season on the line.
Coming out against the lowly Edmonton Oilers Friday night at home, the forechecking was nonexistent, battles for loose pucks were lost and command of the moment at hand was absent.
The energy level against the Oilers, a team with the second-worst record in the NHL, seemed more like an exhibition game in September. If the Coyotes are serious about qualifying for the playoffs, their passion, emotion and sense of commitment must be raised.
Clearly, this is not a team on a mission and least of all, not a team trying frantically to qualify for postseason play. As well, the Coyotes’ tepid style of play did not involve the 14,732 in attendance Friday night at Jobing.com Arena. The fans appeared less engaged than the players, more distant and clearly less passionate.
Despite the perception on the ice, players see things differently.
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Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Mark Brown
Are the Phoenix Coyotes a Legitimate Playoff Team?
April 5th, 2014 by Mark Brown Leave a reply »
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