Early woes causing concern
1st-period holes burying Coyotes in recent losses
Mistakes in the Coyotes’ play — poor penalties, defensive breakdowns and soft goals — have congregated in the first period lately, and the team isn’t sure why.
As challenging as it may be then to find a solution, the Coyotes realize they can’t keep falling into first-period holes.
“Don’t give up goals-against would be a good start,” coach Dave Tippett said. “To do that, you have to compete hard and be ready to start the game, and that’s what we have to continue to pound away at.”
The Coyotes have been scored on first in half of their games, going 4-6-3 in those contests. When they trail after one period — like they did in Saturday’s 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks — the Coyotes are 3-6-1.
Twice in the past three games they’ve been behind 3-0 after the first period. Overall, the Coyotes been outscored 2816 in first periods this season.
“You have to take chances to get yourself back in the game,” Tippett said. “You open yourself up more. We’ve had some games this year where we’ve actually got away with it. But when you get away with it, sometimes you don’t learn lessons. Now we’re starting to get a few of these lessons taught to us, so hopefully they’re lessons that we learn and can take it moving forward.”
Avoiding an early deficit is especially important on the road, which is where the Coyotes will be for their next four games. They start a tour of western Canada on Tuesday in Edmonton against the Oilers.
“When you have a lead, you can be patient,” winger Radim Vrbata said. “You can wait for a chance. But when you’re behind, you have to create your chances. So you maybe have to risk a little more, and that’s where it’s dangerous because the other team can take advantage of it and that’s the chance they’re waiting for here and there. They score another one and it’s over.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, then, the Coyotes are 11-1-1 when they score first this season. They’re also a spotless 10-0 when they take a lead into the first in- termission.
Both happened in their most recent win — a 3-1win over the Minnesota Wild last Wednesday — but the Coyotes accomplished neither in their past four losses.
“That’s a stat that I think every team or most teams would say favors them,” Tippett said. “If they can get out to a lead, play your game, it seems like you use less energy when you’re playing with a lead.
“It’s hard to come back. You have teams playing good defending games. You got good goaltenders and you put yourself down with easy goals-against, it’s a long way back.”