Coyotes Lose to Avalanche, But Gain Experience
Arizona's playoff run comes to an end after a Game 5 loss to Colorado
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
It's never easy to end a season short of the ultimate goal.
"Yeah, it stinks," Derek Stepan said. "Anytime you lose, it's never fun. Just the way it went down. It's going to be sour for a while, and I hope maybe that's some fuel going into next season."
The Coyotes closed Wednesday afternoon with a 7-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 5. Colorado won the series, 4-1, eliminating Arizona from the playoffs.
Win Game 5, Stay Alive
"We'll come out swinging. We don't want our season to end. We want to force a Game 6."
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are coming off a 7-1 loss in Game 4. Jakob Chychrun scored the lone goal for Arizona; Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta combined for 23 saves.
- No. 7 Arizona vs. No. 2 Colorado
- Game 5: 2:30 p.m. PT
- Rogers Place - Edmonton, AB
- TV (Local): FOX Sports Arizona (FOX Sports Arizona Plus)
- TV (National): NHL Network (NBCSN - JIP)
- Radio: FOX Sports 910 AM
Avalanche lead series, 3-1
'We're Looking for Character': Coyotes Respond to Game 4 Loss
"We had the chance to tie the series. It was a big game for us. Not good enough."
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes talked after the game. But what was said stays in-house.
"That's going to stay with us," Derek Stepan said when asked to describe the post-game message.
"We move forward to Game 5. We're not going to talk about what we talked about."
Arizona faces elimination following Monday's 7-1 loss to the Avalanche in Game 4. Colorado leads the series three games to one.
The post-game discussion was amongst players, and players only.
Coyotes Know Forecast, Seek to Even Up With Avs
Arizona unbeaten as the "home" team so far this postseason
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are coming off a 4-2 win in Game 3. Derek Stepan, Brad Richardson, Taylor Hall, and Lawson Crouse scored for Arizona; Darcy Kuemper made 49 saves.
No. 7 Arizona vs. No. 2 Colorado
- Game 4: 2:30 p.m. PT
- Rogers Place - Edmonton, AB
- TV (Local): FOX Sports Arizona (FOX Sports Arizona Plus)
- TV (National): NBCSN
- Radio: FOX Sports 910 AM
Avalanche lead series, 2-1
'The Big Line' Producing Hefty Results
"You have to have an identity line in the playoffs, and they're our identity line."
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
Lawson Crouse. Carl Soderberg. Christian Fischer.
Rick Tocchet calls them "The Big Line."
"Simple as that," he said.
Those three Coyotes combine nearly 650 pounds of beef.
Radio color commentator Paul Bissonnette has dubbed them "The Meat Line."
Coyotes 'Get it Done,' Series Now 2-1
Arizona captures critical Game 3 win: 'We just gave ourselves another opportunity'
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
Spectacular goaltending, timely goals, and a steadfast approach to a 'never-say-die' defense resulted Saturday in a potential series-saving Coyotes victory.
Arizona clawed its way to a 4-2 win in Game 3. The series now stands 2-1.
The Coyotes blocked 27 shots. Darcy Kuemper made a career-high 49 saves.
"That's who we are, that's our identity," said Derek Stepan, who blocked a team-high four shots. "We have to play that way.
"We're finding ways to get it done. And at this time of year, nothing matters but the end result. We got a win, we're down two games to one. We focus our energy on Game 4."
Coyotes Believe, Look to Bounce Back in Back-to-Back
A quick, 25-hour turnaround leads to Game 3 Saturday afternoon: "We're going to be ready"
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are coming off a 3-2 loss in Game 2. Clayton Keller and Michael Grabner scored for Arizona; Darcy Kuemper made 25 saves.
No. 7 Arizona vs. No. 2 Colorado
- Game 3: 12:00 p.m. PT
- Rogers Place - Edmonton, AB
- TV (Local): FOX Sports Arizona (FOX Sports Arizona Plus)
- TV (National): CNBC
- Radio: FOX Sports 910 AM
Avalanche lead series, 2-0
'We're Not Backing Off': Coyotes Down, But Far from Out
Rick Tocchet wants "same energy, same plan" for Game 3 Saturday
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
Head coach Rick Tocchet wanted a response. He got it.
"We played a good hockey game," Tocchet said. "That's more like it. I'm proud of the way they played."
Unfortunately, for him and his Coyotes, they didn't get the win.
The Coyotes matched - and at times, outplayed - the Avalanche.
"We were in their face today," Tocchet stressed. "We could've won that hockey game. That's more of our style. You've got to go down swinging, and we were in that game."
Coyotes Stress 'Make A Stand' Mindset for Game 2
Rick Tocchet confident his club is capable of responding Friday, felt "good energy" Thursday
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are coming off a 3-0 loss in Game 1. Darcy Kuemper made 37 saves.
No. 7 Arizona at No. 2 Colorado
- Game 2: 11:00 a.m. PT
- Rogers Place - Edmonton, AB
- TV (Local): FOX Sports Arizona (FOX Sports Arizona Plus)
- TV (National): NHL Network
- Radio: FOX Sports 910 AM
Avalanche lead series, 1-0
Despite Kuemper's Brilliance, Coyotes Drop Game 1
Arizona out-shot 40-14 in series opener
by Alex Kinkopf @AEKinkopf / Arizona Coyotes
Asked to describe his post-game message, Coyotes' head coach Rick Tocchet said, "They won one game, and they've got to win four."
The first 53 minutes of Wednesday's Game 1 were scoreless, providing optimism for Coyotes fans.
Then Colorado came alive with three goals in 1:25 to take a 3-0 lead, which was the final score.
Tocchet continued: "If you were nervous tonight, or had anxiety tonight, or just didn't have it tonight, (you) find a way to have it two days from now. That's really the message."