After play April 10, the Phoenix Coyotes, along with five teams are within five standing points of each other. Now, the positioning for the final three post-season slots in the Western Conference is underway in earnest.
With their win over Edmonton Wednesday night, the Coyotes (42 standing points) moved within one point of eighth place Detroit and within four points of St. Louis and Minnesota (each tied with 46 points).
In winning four of its last five games, Phoenix is perhaps playing its best hockey of the season. With the return of Mike Smith (missed six games) between the pipes and heighten sense of urgency, the Coyotes are limiting good chances to opponents, and allowing a lower number of goals.
Earlier this season, coach Dave Tippett called out captain Shane Doan for carrying too much baggage on the ice. Though he picked up six points in his last nine games, Doan responded with physical play and leadership.
"One of the reasons we're ready better in recent games is that we're not giving a goal immediately after scoring ourselves," Doan said before the Coyotes embarked on their present three game road trip. "It's encouraging right now and we need to keep that up."
If the Coyotes are to challenge for post-season positioning, Doan remains an integral part. It's unusual for Tippett to throw players under the bus, but when he cited the lack-luster play of his captain, that ignited a spark.
After a scoreless first period at Edmonton, Boyd Gordon put Phoenix on the board with his fourth of the season just 37 seconds into the middle period. After the Oilers began pepper Smith, Antoine Vermette created that needed buffer space when he deposited his ninth of the season at 9 minutes even. From that point, the Coyotes posted a 3-1 win in the Rexall Place and moved to within one point of the eighth place Red Wings.
Missing six games due to a collision with Vancouver's Alexander Edler on March 21, Smith returned between the pipes and allowwed one goal in each of two games and posted a shutout over Colorado on April 6.
"Mike is very competitive," said Tippett. "We need him to be competitive, and by doing that, he'll keep us in games."
After missing 14 games with a foot injury, Vrbata returned to the lineup March 19 at Los Angeles. In the 11 games since, Vrbata scored three goals, two in one game against Nashville on March 28. The right-handed sharpshooter is the sniper the Coyotes need to produce wins.
Coming into Friday's game in Calgary, the 31 year old native of Miada Boleslax, Czech Republic picked up seven games in 26 games, but needs to light a flame.
It's no secret the Coyotes score by committee and clearly Vrbata's ability to stick the puck in the net would be welcomed.
With three games remaining at home among those eight remaining, the Coyotes must elevate their intensity level and heighten their sense of urgency,
Mark Brown is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.
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