Coyotes 2 – Lightning 1 – A great battle on horrible ice

As we stated in our pre-game article, this game between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Tampa Bay Lightning had the potential to be a tight game where both teams would need to bring their “A” games offensively and defensively. For the most part, the Coyotes plus Bryzgalov did just that. However, the Lightning did as well….for a bit.

Other than that, there was one aspect of the game that I didn’t foresee effecting the outcome of the game.

The conditions of the ice.

To say the conditions of the ice were horrible is an understatement. I lost count of how many times the puck was fumbling all over the ice, interrupting passes and the general flow of the game. On the flip side, the more I thought about the bad ice conditions, the more I realized that the Coyotes have had similar conditions at home and when they play in Southern California. The bad ice was effecting the game but it wasn’t effecting the way the Coyotes played their game.

Ice aside, the difference makers in this game was Bryzgalov and the shutting down of the Lightning’s play makers. Bryzgalov repeatedly made key save after key save especially when the Lightning increased the pressure in their offensive zone. The other difference maker in the game was the shutting down of Lightning playmaker (and #5 scorer in the NHL) Martin St. Louis. I lost count of how many times the Coyotes assigned defenseman Ed Jovanovski to cover St. Louis extremely tightly not allowing St. Louis to do anything offensively. It’s little things like Jovanovski’s coverage that go unnoticed by fans in general yet is so essential for the overall team victory.

One other thing to note is that the Fiddler/Pyatt/Stempniak line has bonified chemistry and they have been extremely fun to watch since they have been paired together.

Tonight the Coyotes take on the Florida Panthers in South Florida and will begin a long succession of games on back on Fox Sports Arizona.

Game Hi Lights

Game Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/GS021032.HTM

Event Summary:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/ES021032.HTM

Play by Play:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/PL021032.HTM

Faceoff Stats:

http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20092010/FC021032.HTM

Postgame Presser with Dave Tippett (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

Post game comments from Vernon Fiddler (Courtesy of PhoenixCoyotes.com):

http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/podcastplayer.htm?pid=335&iid=21028

Post Game comments from Lightning Head Coach Rick Tocchet:

Post game Comments from Lightning Players:

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