Why the underdog can win: The Blackhawks were four points better than the Coyotes during the regular season – while playing in a much tougher division – and they still have the core that won the Cup two years ago. The Coyotes haven’t won a playoff series since moving from Winnipeg in 1996 – and maybe they never will. The NHL still hasn’t been able to sell the team it bought out of bankruptcy 2-1/2 years ago. The Coyotes brass has hinted there could be good news soon. But is that just because they don’t want a repeat of last year? As the playoffs began, a report said the Coyotes would relocate after elimination. It was wrong, but it still sabotaged them.
Why the underdog is still the underdog: Captain Jonathan Toews has been skating but has said he still has concussion symptoms. So why is he skating, let alone trying to come back? The power play has been a mess all season, and the goaltending does not match up. Corey Crawford and Ray Emery have been shaky for Chicago, while Mike Smith led the Coyotes to the first division title in team history. The Coyotes went 20-6-5 after Feb. 1. They won their last three meetings with the Blackhawks. Maybe Phoenix will pull it off – a playoff victory and a franchise sale.
"He has all the physical skills. He can do anything he wants in this game," said veteran Adrian Aucoin, Ekman-Larsson's defense partner much of the year. "I've played with a lot of talented d-men in this League, and he has as much ability as anyone. He's taken giant steps this year and he's 20 years old. The best is yet to come, and that's going to be something special."
Phoenix captain Shane Doan said one of the most popular topics in the room among veteran players is how good Ekman-Larsson will be one, three or five years from now.
"He's going to be one of the premier players in this league, not just defensemen," Doan said. "It took about five or six games this year before everyone was looking at each other and saying, 'Holy Smokes!' Everyone saw it last year, and that it was coming. It was just a matter of how soon.
"His talent is as good as I've ever played with. People talk about more experience, more beef … but I'll take him right now."
I hope we shut them out at any game played in Chicago. I DESPISE that stupid ****ing song.
It's the worst goal celebration in the NHL. Even worse than Montreal's poncey goal whistle and San Jose's Casio cover of Gary Glitter. (Not that I'm crazy about the Coyotes' song. They need to bring Zevon back, IMO.)
yeah.. looks like we get to wait around and see who televises the game I suppose..
I have never seen anything like this since having to watch Kings game on UHF feeds... incredible...
yeah.. looks like we get to wait around and see who televises the game I suppose..
I have never seen anything like this since having to watch Kings game on UHF feeds... incredible...
I wonder if there is a statistic that could be looked up as to the amount of households that have just regular cable(and no FSN+) compared to digital cable that would have FSN+.
It's the worst goal celebration in the NHL. Even worse than Montreal's poncey goal whistle and San Jose's Casio cover of Gary Glitter. (Not that I'm crazy about the Coyotes' song. They need to bring Zevon back, IMO.)
I really wish they would do like they did 2 years ago when we made the playoffs. Showed the game on Channel 3 and centered the whole evening news around the game, broadcasting right from Westgate. That was awesome.
Yes, but local regional coverage. Someone said NBC was going to be blacked out for someone in the FS-AZ market.
I am under the impression that the national broadcast will be blacked out during the first round but I could be wrong. I dont remember it for the Coyotes and could only cite MLB's policy. I enjoy the local broadcasts more but when they stick it on a hardly used channel that only works half the time, its not worth it.
Last year game 1 was on versus, I think, and I remember watching it on FSN so I am not sure if versus was blacked out.
John Shannon @JSportsnet
Good news for the Coyotes...first two games of series in Glendale have already sold out.
How long do you think it takes until game five is sold out? I'm in the process of convincing a friend to go with me to Arizona for that game, but if he keeps dragging out with an answer and there's a risk that game sells out soon I'll just say screw it and go alone. This series better not be a sweep...
