Series Wrapup: Phoenix Coyotes 4-2 Chicago Blackhawks

You have to hand it to the Phoenix Coyotes after winning their first division title in team history they follow it up with their first playoff series victory in team history as well. Many Hawk fans will be shaking their heads, wondering what their team did wrong considering how good the team looked at times. What happened then? They were out coached and out disciplined. Phoenix came into this series knowing what they wanted to do, play a tight game with tough checking, allow as few chances (and weak ones to the outside when they did) and to capitalize on their opportunities when they came. They, largely, dictated the flow of the game and slowed it down, killing the transition game of the Hawks.

Mike Smith’s performance cannot be understated, he was fantastic all series whereas Corey Crawford struggled mightily with consistency and gave up very soft goals in the overtimes of both games 3 and 4. The top 6 talent that Chicago possesses was largely silent and their woes on the power play with so many of the games being air tight killed them; they finish with a playoff worst 5.3% power play. 

Looking ahead the Phoenix Coyotes will have the Nashville Predators, my pick to come out of the West. They’re beaten up and without forward Raffi Torres (as you probably know, Torres was suspended 25 games for an illegal charge to the head of Marian Hossa that sent him to the hospital) and I have a hard time seeing them doing any real damage against a Predators team that plays a similar style but possesses a much better team and talent. For the Hawks they have a long off-season with my questions that need to be answered. What to do with the gaping hole at 2C? How to fix the special teams? How can the D be fixed? And, most importantly in my opinion, will Joel Quenneville be given a chance to turn this around? 

So congrats to the Coyotes on their first win and best of luck next year to the Hawks.

Flavor of the Series:

Founders Dirty Bastard. Why?

Raffi Torres.