New Home of the Coyotes Has Been Den of Inequity

The Phoenix Coyotes had a new home this season--and they didn’t play well in it.

The Coyotes’ 15-19-7 record at America West Arena was the fourth-worst home record in the NHL this season--and they already trail the Mighty Ducks, 2-0, as their best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series moves to Phoenix today for Game 3.

Phoenix Coach Don Hay says to throw out the regular-season numbers when it comes to the playoffs, and that much of the difficulty was because of the move from Winnipeg during the off-season.

“The transition from Winnipeg to Phoenix was a lot tougher than we all thought it would be,” he said, alluding to family adjustments and the temptations of warm weather, including golf.

Another problem is that there are only four ice rinks in Phoenix, including America West Arena, so the Coyotes often had to practice in whatever building was not being used that day, at whatever time was available.

“We haven’t had a practice rink all year, and we never had a chance to develop a routine,” Hay said.

The Ducks expect difficult games in Phoenix despite the Coyotes’ record there.

“We know it will be tougher when we go to Phoenix,” right wing Teemu Selanne said. “Phoenix doesn’t have a very good home record. I don’t know why, really, but I think for sure they’re going to match lines more.”

Selanne and Paul Kariya faced extra attention from Darrin Shannon and Jeremy Roenick in Game 2, and now Phoenix will have the advantage of the last line change at home.

In addition, today will mark the first NHL playoff game held in Phoenix.

“We expect them to have big fan support there,” goalie Guy Hebert said. “They’ve been waiting for a playoff game as well, and now they know they’re down, 2-0.”

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How hard will it be for Phoenix to come back to win the series?

Historically, less than 15% of NHL teams down 0-2 in a best-of-seven series come back to win the series.

Last season, Pittsburgh was the only team to lose the first two games and still recover, beating Washington in six games in the first round after losing the first two at home.

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Duck center Steve Rucchin is improving and said he is “questionable” for today after missing the first two games because of back spasms.

He’ll have to decide whether he’s ready this morning because today’s game is at noon.

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The Coyotes were as surprised as anyone that Hay would shuffle his lines as he did for Game 2. Hay made the changes to better slow Duck wingers Kariya and Selanne.

“It’s tough,” said right wing Roenick, who was moved off the top line to join center Bob Corkum’s checking line with Shannon on left wing. “You play with guys for a long time and get used to each other, and then you change up like that? But we handled it well. We did what we were supposed to do, but we lost.”

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According to David Casstevens of the Arizona Republic, the booing Coyote defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky heard in Anaheim was misdirected.

“Instead of booing him, Duck fans should cheer,” Casstevens wrote of Tverdovsky, who angered Duck fans with his “I hate that team” comments before Game 1. “He was part of last year’s trade that brought Selanne to Anaheim. The fast-skating right wing was the NHL’s second-leading scorer during the regular season and is a primary reason the Coyotes face a must-win situation in Game 3.”

Hay added a challenge to Tverdovsky with the series moving to Phoenix.

“Oleg’s got to pick up his play,” Hay told the Arizona Republic. “We’ve got to get more out of him. He’s one of the top four offensive defensemen in the league and he’s not doing enough offensively.”

The booing, Hay thinks, took its toll.

“I think it definitely affected him. He didn’t expect to get that kind of reception in Anaheim. He was a target on the ice and he has to respond. When you say things like that in the media, you have to back it up in your play.”