Coyotes coach Tocchet likes how defense has played
The key to getting the Arizona Coyotes out of a two-game goal-less mini-slump might be something Coyotes coaches have preached to the players often in the past — getting more guys in front of the net.
“There’s got to be a second sit guy (for) some of those tipped plays,” head coach Rick Tocchet said. “You have to be consistent on those kind of concepts.”
The Coyotes’ pre-practice video session examined players getting to the net, but not stopping in front of it on a shot. Vacating the area, and thus losing out on a chance to get a rebound, kept the Coyotes from a couple of quality chances at close range.
With the Anaheim Ducks packing in their defense and goaltender John Gibson on his game Tuesday, the Coyotes still managed 31 shots but couldn’t get one into the net. Chances were fewer and farther between in the 1-0 loss to Vegas this past Sunday, but the game was less than minute away from overtime and a wide open 3-on-3 situation where a goal could have come.
“You’ve got to be careful. I don’t want to panic,” Tocchet said. “But there are some things that we can change, and that is some of our guys to put themselves in good areas to get rebounds and those second-effort goals. When the games are tight, second-effort goals are huge.”
A pair of 1-0 scores, though on the losing
end, indicates the Coyotes are getting solid goaltending and a strong defensive effort, which Tocchet noted Wednesday after practice.
“We’ve really protected the interior,” Tocchet said, adding that odd-man rushes for opponents are also down from the first few games of the season.
Every team is in the same situation as far as a condensed schedule, but the reality for the Coyotes is that they have played every other day since the season opened on Jan. 14. That could be a factor, but some rest will come after Thursday’s game.
Following Thursday’s game, the Coyotes don’t play until Tuesday, when they start a six-game trip in St. Louis.
“I’m conscious about their rest and energy,” Tocchet said. “Our team has to play with energy. We can’t outscore teams all the time, we’ve got to have energy against other teams and play smart.”