Examining the Phoenix Coyotes numbers

Advantage Margin: -25
The Coyotes gave their power play a lot of work at home, earning 17 more chances than the opposition (218-201). But on the road, the Coyotes gave opponents an average of an extra power-play chance per game (224-182).

Even-Strength Goals Margin: -37
The Coyotes’ plus-minus numbers were a horror show. Among players who played in 50 or more games, only Travis Roche was a plus player (+2). Shane Doan was the only Coyote to score more than 15 even-strength goals. 

Special Teams Goal Margin: -34
Maybe Wayne Gretzky can take a turn on the power play — the Coyotes sure need some kind of a boost after converting only 16.5 percent of their chances (22nd). But the penalty-killers were even worse, finishing 28th overall (78.4 percent) and last at home (77.6).

Goals by defensemen: 35
Ed Jovanovski reached double figures in goals (11) despite missing 28 games with injuries. Roche, Keith Ballard, Zbynek Michalek and Derek Morris are also useful offensively.

Goals by forwards: 175
Doan (27 goals) was the only Coyote to break the 20-goal mark, and their No. 2 goal-scorer, Owen Nolan, left as a free agent. 2006 first-rounder Peter Mueller and his 2005 counterpart, Martin Hanzel, will have every opportunity to win jobs.

Overtime Record: 7-3-3 (OT: 2-3, SO: 5-2)
As bad as the Coyotes’ season was, it could have been worse: Their .714 winning percentage in shootouts was tied for second in the League.

Times Scored First/Record: 29 (Record: 18-8-3)
No team put itself in a hole more often than the Coyotes. Phoenix opened the scoring fewer times than any team in the NHL — including just 14 times at home, also a League low.

Best 06-07 Number: .793
Save percentage by Coyotes’ goaltenders in shootouts. Phoenix won five of seven shootouts because its goalies allowed only six goals on 29 shots. Their save percentage was the best in the Western Conference.

Worst 06-07 Number: 26
Losses by three or more goals, the most in the NHL. Phoenix was 16-18 in one-goal games, but 9-26 in big-margin contests, including a 4-15 record away from home.

Scheduling:
The Coyotes get a chance for a fast start with five of their first seven games at home. They also have the oddity of playing three-straight games against the same opponent: They play back-to-back games in San Jose on Nov. 10-12, then host the Sharks on Nov. 15 (the Sharks have a game before coming to Phoenix).