Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Sporadic Play From The Arizona Coyotes

12/18/2018 at 9:34am EST

from Richard Morin of azcentral,

In the NHL, it usually takes 20-25 games to really figure out the identity of a team and whether or not it could be a contender for a given season. But it’s taken a bit longer to get a firm evaluation of these Arizona Coyotes.

For the Coyotes, who will suit up for their 33rd game on Tuesday against the New York Islanders at Gila River Arena, the verdict has not yet been rendered and many questions still remain. Do they stand any chance in the Pacific Division? Are they any good? Are they simply a mediocre team still trying to find its niche?

These are questions we should probably be able to answer by now, but the Coyotes’ inconsistent play through the first part of the season has painted a cloudy picture. Much of that smokescreen has to do with the team’s inability to ride any waves of momentum — especially on the road.

The latest such situation came during a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, a frustrating defeat that yielded a 1-3 road trip to Arizona. Still, that frustration went far beyond just a loss. It was yet another example of the Coyotes being incapable of building momentum.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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