Phoenix Coyotes at Edmonton Oilers, Game 61 Breakdown

Phoenix Coyotes
@ Edmonton Oilers

Saturday, Feb 25, 2012, 2:00 PM MST
Rexall Place

Five for Howling

Tickets available for the matinee vs. Phoenix

Mike Smith Goes For 10 As Phoenix Coyotes Visit Edmonton Oilers - Five For Howling
The Phoenix Coyotes are on a roll with points in 10 consecutive games, a four game winning streak, back-to-back come from behind victories and just generally awesome play. Their current tear has pulled them into a tie in points with the San Jose Sharks for first in the Pacific Division, although they remain in 7th position overall in the Western Conference, but just 2 points behind the Hawks.

Coyotes Expected Lines (courtesy Left Wing Lock)

Ray Whitney - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata
Lauri Korpikoski - Boyd Gordon - Shane Doan
Mikkel Boedker - Daymond Langkow - Taylor Pyatt
Raffi Torres - Gilbert Brule - Kyle Chipchura

Rostislav Klesla - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Chris Summers - Michal Rozsival
Keith Yandle - Adrian Aucoin

Coyotes Pick Up Antoine Vermette From Blue Jackets - Five For Howling
In a surprise move today it was announced, over twitter of course, that the Phoenix Coyotes have acquired Columbus Blue Jackets Center Antoine Vermette in exchange for Portland Pirates goalie Curtis McElhinney, a 2012 second round draft pick and a 2013 fifth round draft pick. The 2012 draft pick may look familiar, the Yotes acquired it in the Turris trade, hopefully that trade will be the gift that keeps on giving. This was a bit of a surprising move, some people speculated that the Coyotes would remain relatively quiet this year, the team is winning so it was speculated that there would be no need to make changes to the lineup, but we all new that Columbus would be sellers this year, with their terrible record and being last place in the league.

Vermette deal 'makes so much sense,' Maloney says - Ice Chips
Don Maloney strikes again. The Coyotes general manager obtained a highly skillful and competitive center with proven versatility from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for two draft choices (second and fifth rounds) and a minor-league goaltender.

Tippett says Coyotes need more from Boedker - Ice Chips
"Bods is a smart player; he’s a structurally sound player. That’s all well and good. You still got to have some kind of impact on the game. Bods really cares, he wants to do well, but he’s got to find a way, whether it’s on the score sheet scoring a goal or an assist or get a hit or a takeaway, a blocked shot.

Coyotes growing tough through adversity - Ice Chips
"Hopefully, we continue to improve. Every game is a desperation game for us, which in the end makes you a better team. The adversity that you go through, you grow from it, and games like last night, hopefully our team grows from that game.

Coyotes' Mike Smith outperforming Flyers' Ilya Bryzgalov - AZ Central
Conventional wisdom, when applied to the Coyotes the past three seasons, has been an exercise in futility. The latest gem was that the overachieving team coached by Dave Tippett would be unable to overcome the loss of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov with journeyman Mike Smith.

Would you support a jersey redesign? Concepts inside... - Five For Howling
There really is no need to reinvent the wheel or do anything dramatic. What we have right now works. It's established, and it doesn't look like an acid trip scene from Fear and Loathing (hasn't always been the case). It might be beneficial to tweak a few things here and there. Personally, I think that adding black shoulders (like the red shoulders on the aways) and some black piping (like the Predators have on their jerseys) would be pretty nice touches for the home uni's.

Taylor Hall -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Ales Hemsky
Ryan Smyth – Sam Gagner – Jordan Eberle
Magnus Paajarvi – Shawn Horcoff – Ben Eager
Lennart Petrell – Eric Belanger – Darcy Hordichuk

Ladislav Smid – Jeff Petry
Ryan Whitney – Tom Gilbert
Andy Sutton – Cam Barker

Devan Dubnyk

G61 Coyotes at Oilers - Lowetide
Finally! The Oilers are keeping their actual NHL players, and that is news. After YEARS of offloading–you know the list–they signed Ales Hemsky and brought hope back into the conversation. What does it mean? Well, come summer the holes won’t be as plentiful as past summers and the team will perhaps address holes and find a way to establish balance. Sweet, beautiful balance.

Oilers vs. Coyotes – Game 61 – Putting on the Foil
The Nuge makes his return to action tonight. Not sure on the lines yet, but I’m guessing they’ll want to keep the top two lines intact since they’ve been playing well and having success with them the last two games. Maybe even easing Nuge back into the lineup on the 3rd line would be good. Tom Renney will also return to the bench tonight.

Games Remaining In Ales Hemsky's Edmonton Career: 186!

Today's Frustrated Edmonton Fan: tkenny79

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