The Phoenix Coyotes kicked off their second consecutive stab at Lord Stanley's Cup last night, and if they could've figured out how to score on a power play, they wouldn't have dropped game one 4-2 to the Detroit Red Wings, the same team who thwarted the Howlers quest for the cup last year.
The Coyotes failed to capitalize on six power plays -- four of which came in the first period alone.
The Yotes got the scoring started early with a Kyle Turris goal about two minutes into the first period.
Detroit responded with penalty after penalty, giving the Coyotes an opportunity to take a big lead early in the game. But they didn't -- they failed on each of their four first period power plays, including a 91-second 5-on-3 advantage.
Detroit was scoreless in the first period, primarily because they played
much of the period down a man. The second period was a different story.
Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk scored on a wraparound goal midway through
the second period, followed quickly by a goal from winger Johan Franzen
to put the Red Wings up 2-1.
Unlike the Coyotes, the Red Wings know how to score when they have a man
advantage, and furthered their lead with a power play goal from Brian
Rafalski with about two minutes to go in the second.
The Coyotes, meanwhile, pissed away another power play opportunity when Patrick Eaves went to the box for hooking.
The third period wasn't much better for the Howlers. Detroit scored early, putting them up 4-1 with about 17 minutes to play.
Radim Vrbata made the score 4-2 for the Coyotes with a goal about seven minutes into the period.
There was a brief glimmer of hope for the Coyotes when about eight
minutes into the period, Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader went to the
box for interference. Again, however, the Coyotes were unable to
capitalize on the power play.
Game two is Saturday in Detroit. The puck drops at 10 a.m. Click here for more info on the Coyotes.
