The Phoenix Coyotes split two playoff games over the weekend -- including a big win in Detroit -- to lead the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 heading into the fourth game of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
The Coyotes dropped a heartbreaker at home on Friday night, losing 7-4 to the Wings in Glendale, but they regained the series lead on Sunday, winning 4-2 in Detroit.
Friday's game, despite the 7-4 final score, was much more evenly match than the score would indicate.
The Coyotes lead the game until about halfway through the second period, both teams seemed to start scoring at will.
Five goals were scored within four minutes of each other in the second
period, unfortunately for the Coyotes, three of them were Detroit goals
and the game went into the third period tied at three.
In the third period, the Coyotes defense was useless. The Red Wings
scored four goals including an empty-net goal late in the game by
Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg -- giving him the hat trick.
Despite the loss, Shane Doan was still a headhunting maniac and aside
laying people out the entire game, he's slowly remembering how to score.
Doan had six, big hits in Friday's game -- adding to the nine he
bone-rattling checks he threw in the first game of the series -- and
scored the Coyotes final goal.
On Sunday, we were a little worried about how the Coyotes would handle
a playoff game in Hockey Town USA -- chock-full-o the most obnoxious
fans in the NHL -- but the Howlers put an end to our concerns almost
immediately after the puck was dropped.
Coyotes forward Sami Lepisto scored about 30 seconds into the game, and
the Yotes went on to dominate the rest of the game, winning 4-2.
Doan, again, is the big story out of Sunday's game after suffering an
injury after tripping over Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard and crashing
into the boards early in the second period. He didn't return to the
game and his status will be announced later today.
Vernon Fiddler also suffered an injury that took him out of the game
midway through the second period, but the loss of the two stars didn't
stop the Coyotes from dominating the Red Wings on their own ice.
"They just got better," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said after the game.
"With no Fiddler and no Doan, they had the puck more than we did."
Game four of the series is Tuesday. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. and the
game can be seen on Fox Sports Arizona. For more info on the Coyotes,
click here.