CuJo bekommt heute abend laut AZCentral.com den Start im Tor. LeNeveu hat ganz gut gehalten bislang, es wird für CuJo so etwas wie eine Chance sein zu zeigen was er kann. Hoffen wir auf einen Sieg.

In der East Valley Tribune gibt es einen interessanten Artikel über den Schweizer Patrick Fischer. Viel Spaß beim lesen!

Joseph gets starting nod

David Vest
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 9, 2006 12:00 AM

Goalie Curtis Joseph, whom coach Wayne Gretzky yanked from his past two starts because he stopped only 17 of 24 shots, is scheduled to start tonight’s game against Dallas.

“Curtis is our guy,” Gretzky said after Wednesday’s practice at Jobing.com Arena. ” . . . He’s a competitor. We need him. He’s ready. I know he’s much better than he’s played the last two games, and he knows that, too.”

Joseph carried the Coyotes for much of last season, but he has won just two games this season and his goals-against average is an alarming 4.40.

By comparison, only once in Joseph’s other 16 NHL seasons was his GAA at the end of the season above 3.40.

On Saturday, Joseph gave up two goals within the first seven minutes and was benched.

“I’ve got to bounce back and play well for our guys,” Joseph said. “We need wins.”

Joseph has spent the past few days working closely with goaltending coach Grant Fuhr and watching video of his recent performances with Fuhr.

“The last few games I haven’t seen the puck real well,” Joseph said. “So I’ve been working on making sure I see it.”

Fuhr said Joseph must be more aggressive and position himself closer to the top of the crease.

“I think as your confidence wanes a little bit, you have a tendency to want to back up and be closer to the net,” Fuhr said. “The best way to fix that is to do the opposite. He just has to trust himself. He’s as good as there is in the league and knows that. He knows how to fix this. It’s just a matter of him believing in himself again.”

Ballard likely to play
Gretzky said defenseman Keith Ballard, who was removed from the injured reserve list Wednesday, likely would play tonight in place of Dennis Seidenberg.

“Ballard gives us something pretty special,” Gretzky said. “He brings an element to our team of energy and passion. He makes us a better team.”

Ballard fractured a bone in his right hand while blocking a shot Oct. 9.

Ice chips
Center Mike Zigomanis (groin) was removed from the injured reserve list Wednesday, and might play tonight.

• Captain Shane Doan is questionable for tonight’s game because of a nagging back injury that has limited his practice time this week.

• Center Mike Ricci, who has not played this season because of a neck injury, was given medical clearance to practice.

Quelle: [1] http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/1109coyotesnb1109.html

Coyotes notebook - Fischer adjusting to North American game 
By Matt Paulson, Tribune
November 9, 2006
As one of only four Swiss players in the NHL, forward Patrick Fischer was ecstatic at the end of training camp when notified he had made the Coyotes.

“If I could write a book about my perfect team to come over to in the NHL at 31, you can’t write a better story,” Fischer, a big fan of Wayne Gretzky, said at the time.

A veteran of 13 seasons in the Swiss Elite League and a power-play specialist, Fischer was spotted by Gretzky during the past Olympics and signed in hopes he could provide some offensive punch.

Through Phoenix’s first 10 games — he was scratched five times — Fischer was nonexistent on the offensive end, registering no points. While that was partly due to the fact he was asked to play more of a defensive role and that he was slowed by a groin injury, Fischer said the bigger issue was in his head.

“The first couple games I really didn’t play that well. I was thinking too much,” said Fischer, who had 21 goals and 53 points in 44 games last season with Zug. “I think I’m more of an instinct player. When I’m thinking, I slow down.”

The past four games have been a different story, as Fischer has adjusted to the North American game and brought his game up to speed with two goals and four points.

“I’m comfortable now,” he said.

“I’ll probably give Fischer some center power-play time,” Gretzky said. “I think he’s better offensively than we’ve given him the chance to be. We’ve been really happy with his defensive skills, his commitment to defense. I think he’s fit in nicely for us.”

BALLARD IS BACK
Keith Ballard, who missed the past month with a broken hand, was cleared to return by the team’s medical staff, and Gretzky said the second-year defenseman will be in tonight’s lineup.

During his absence, the Coyotes went 2-8 and on several occasions lacked the energy and passion for which Ballard is known.

With Ballard’s return, the Coyotes will have seven defensemen on their active roster. Gretzky said there are no plans to send anyone to the minors, and that Dennis Seidenberg, who scored his first goal of the season Saturday, would likely be a healthy scratch.

STICKING WITH CUJO
Despite pulling Curtis Joseph — who has given up six goals on the past 17 shots he has faced — twice in as many games last weekend, Gretzky will have the 17-year veteran back in goal tonight.

“Curtis is our guy,” Gretzky said.

Stars at Coyotes
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Jobing.com Arena
TV: FSN Arizona
Radio: KDUS (1060 AM)
Records: Dallas 11-4-0, Phoenix 4-10-0
Line: Dallas 170-200
Series history: Dallas won 4-0 in the teams’ first meeting. Phoenix trails 45-59-14-0 all time, including 24-30-4-1 at home.

Scouting report: Stars — Dallas has lost two straight after winning six of the past seven. Mike Modano (eight goals) and Eric Lindros lead the team with 12 points. Goalie Marty Turco is tied for the NHL lead in victories (nine) and is second in goalsagainst average (1.99).

Coyotes — This is the second of five straight at home for Phoenix, which is 2-2-0 in its last four and is 3-4-0 at its own arena. Captain Shane Doan (back) and center Mike Zigomanis (groin) will be game-time decisions. Center Mike Ricci has been cleared for contract drills.

Quelle: [2] http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=78584