Zweiter Sieg in Folge! Die Coyoten haben einen wichtigen Sieg im Penaltyschiessen errungen - gegen die Chicago Blackhawks. Dabei wurde das Spiel aus Sicht der Coyotes unnötig spannend gemacht - immerhin führte man dank Yanic Perreault schon mit 1:0. Doch Chicago drehte das Spiel, erst im letzten Drittel konnte Mike Zigomanis den Ausgleich erzielen. Im Penaltyschiessen dann siegten die Coyoten. Wichtige Punkte um aus dem Keller rauszukommen.

Gute Nachrichten gibt es bezüglich Mike Ricci. Ricci kann wohl demnächst wieder ins Spielgeschehen eingreifen - hoffentlich bringt er den Coyoten auch das, was sie von ihm brauchen.

Irritationen gibt es unterdessen wegen Enver Lisin. Laut einer russischen Sportzeitung soll Lisin vor dem Absprung aus Phoenix stehen - zurück zu seinem Russland-Team AK Bars Kazan. Mit denen hat er wohl noch einen gültigen Vertrag. Was nun dran ist an der ganzen Geschichte und ob Lisin Ende der Woche wirklich nach Russland zurück geht wird sich zeigen. Immerhin hat er gestern gespielt und heute ist die Woche ja schon fast rum…

ESPN: [1] Boxscore [2] Recap

Das schreibt AZCentral:

Joseph shines in shootout win

David Vest
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 17, 2006 12:00 AM

It took them six weeks to accomplish, but the Coyotes finally have a winning streak going.

Curtis Joseph stopped two of three shootout shots to lead Phoenix to a 3-2 victory over Chicago on Thursday in front of a season-high announced crowd at Jobing.com Arena.

Yanic Perreault and Ladislav Nagy netted shootout goals against ex-Coyotes goalie Brian Boucher, but Phoenix won because it killed a five-on-three Chicago advantage late in the third period.

The Coyotes put themselves into the dangerous situation when Fredrik Sjostrom cross-checked Tuomo Ruutu with 6:48 left, and coach Wayne Gretzky verbally abused the referee who made the call enough to earn a second penalty.

The puck never left the Phoenix zone during those 120 seconds, and the Blackhawks peppered Joseph with seven shots on goal.

Joseph stopped them all. “That was my fault,” Gretzky said. “I got on the referee and I shouldn’t have…I just thought (Ruutu) embellished the hit when Sjostrom hit him. Still, I probably shouldn’t have said anything.”

Mike Zigomanis backhanded a pass from Georges Laraque past Boucher with 11:19 left in the third period to tie the score at 2.

“It was a win I certainly wanted,” a dejected Boucher said afterward. “And it was in my hands.”

Coyotes report
Cheers
Oleg Saprykin, Keith Ballard and Derek Morris did a great job of guarding the Coyotes goal after Curtis Joseph slipped to the ice behind his net late in the second period.

Jeers
Forwards Dave Scatchard and Fredrik Sjostrom botched a short-handed, two-on-one Coyotes rush midway through the second period.

Our three stars
1. Curtis Joseph, Coyotes, 32 saves.
2. Yanic Perreault, Coyotes, goal, shootout goal.
3. Brian Boucher, Blackhawks, 25 saves.

View from the press box
Chicago center Craig MacDonald deserved more than a minor penalty for tripping after he delivered a knee-to-knee hit on Coyotes left wing Ladislav Nagy near the end of the first period. That’s all he received, but his cheap shot upped the physical ante for the rest of the game, much to the delight of the crowd. Kudos to Nagy, who had major knee surgery nine months ago, for not shying away from contact after MacDonald’s blow.

Quelle: [3] http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/1117yotesgamer1117.html

Ricci to play games for San Antonio as part of neck rehab

David Vest
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 16, 2006 11:59 PM

Center Mike Ricci is going to play a few games for the team’s top affiliate in San Antonio this weekend to prepare for a possible return to the lineup.

Ricci has missed all 18 games because of a neck injury he suffered while training in the off-season. He had surgery in June and missed training camp.

Ricci is expected to play for San Antonio tonight vs. Houston and Saturday vs. Hartford.

“This gives him a chance to play, get some contact, get a chance to get some timing, go from there and then come back,” associate coach Barry Smith said. “If he does well there, there’s a chance he could play Wednesday (for Phoenix vs. New Jersey).”

Boucher on streak, trade
The skate from the penalty box back to the bench after the opposing team scores a goal is a long one for a hockey player.

Right wing Fredrik Sjostrom remembers an especially long skate of shame after Randy Robitaille, then of the Atlanta Thrashers, scored a power-play goal on Jan. 11, 2004 to end then Coyotes goalie Brian Boucher’s shutout streak at five games.

“I just remember sitting in there thinking ‘don’t score, don’t score’ and, of course, they scored,” Sjostrom said.

Boucher, who is playing for Chicago and who made his first start against the Coyotes on Thursday since they traded him last season, isn’t holding a grudge against Sjostrom.

In fact, he didn’t even remember it was Sjostrom who committed the penalty.

“It was Freddie?” Boucher said after being reminded. “Wow. That bastard. Seriously, I don’t remember that it was him. I do remember the penalty and that the goal went in off the chest of (then-teammate) David Tanabe.”

For the record, Boucher has no hard feelings toward Sjostrom nor the Coyotes, who traded him to Calgary last season after two and a half seasons.

“I was disappointed, no question,” Boucher said. “I liked it here and I felt like I was part of something, but it’s sports and that’s the way it goes. There’s really no hard feelings. You understand. Look at how many guys are gone from the guys I played with here. It’s not if you get traded, it’s when. Shane (Doan) may be the only guy who’s going to be the guy who stays here forever.”

Ice chips
Center Yanic Perreault has been with the Coyotes for only two-plus weeks, but he quickly has become the MVP.

Perreault entered Thursday’s game with three goals and two assists, and had won 57 of his first 90 faceoffs.

“I’m very surprised that he hasn’t dropped off,” Smith said. ” . . . He’s made great contributions to this team and he’s the one who’s helped us play better. And whoever he plays with plays better. He makes the guys on his line better players.”

• Defenseman Nick Boynton played after missing two games because of a foot injury.

Coyotes report
Cheers
Oleg Saprykin, Keith Ballard and Derek Morris did a great job of guarding the Coyotes goal after Curtis Joseph slipped to the ice behind his net late in the second period.

Jeers
Forwards Dave Scatchard and Fredrik Sjostrom botched a short-handed, two-on-one Coyotes rush midway through the second period.

Quelle: [4] http://www.azcentral.com/sports/coyotes/articles/1116yotesnb1117.html

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JR gratuliert CuJo nach seiner Leistung im Shootout! So soll es sein