Seven Days: Arizona Coyotes (Pacific - 3rd)

Arizona Coyotes are over-achieving. Can they keep it up all season? That is the question. Dave Tippett ices a very difficult team to play against. Own zone discipline and breakouts to offense are working because the teams' overall speed has been getting them through the neutral zone well.

Offense:
When Mikkel Boedker gets opportunities, you know that Arizona's transition game is working. He is fun to watch. Martin Hanzal is playing big centering Max Domi and Boedker. When they are skating fast through the neutral zone, they have finishers that are finishing.

Defense:
Oliver Ekmann-Larsson had a very good week. He is the cornerstone of this team in a lot of ways. Michael Stone has impressed me. With Nick Grossman coming back, this defense can be one of the better ones. I'm being optimistic.

Goalies:
Mike Smith has been mostly good. He gives a soft one here and there but his game against Columbus was better than the save percentage shows. Anders Lindback has stood up when called upon.

Next Seven:
Tonight at New York Islanders
Thursday at Montreal
Saturday at Winnipeg

Proving they are real doesn't stop with one good week. They have to win one against either the Isles or the Jets. Montreal is not on top right now, so sneaking points out of them would be a bonus.

3pts

Last Seven:
Win 4 - 3 OT at Anaheim
Win 3 - 2 at Los Angeles
Win 4 - 1 Edmonton
Loss 5 - 2 at Columbus

This is a very good week. After some signs that this team was coming back down to earth after their hot start, the Coyotes got it going. The Columbus loss is ok but they did get beaten. This team has to exploit their scoring chances - they play a resilient defensive system, giving nothing easy down the middle.

Injuries:
Nick Grossman should be returning.

seven days Nov. 9th - 15th