Coyotes Pick Their Spot: It’s in Front of the Net

The Phoenix Coyotes won Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal playoff series by skating hard to the front of the Mighty Duck net, screening goalie Guy Hebert and redirecting shots from the perimeter.

The Ducks are expecting a repeat of those tactics in Game 4 tonight. After all, the Coyotes scored three of their four goals in Game 3 by deflecting long-range shots past Hebert.

“It’s no fluke,” Duck defenseman Bobby Dollas said. “Their game is set on that. It’s a little bit of skill, a little bit of luck.

“We’ve got to angle them out of the play more and force them to go around and behind the net instead of skating in front.”

Based on Sunday’s success, the Coyotes are determined to get more traffic in front of Hebert tonight.

“[Sunday] was our best game as far as going to the net, and that’s where things happen in the playoffs,” Coyote defenseman Jayson More said. “You’re not going to see a lot of real pretty goals in the playoffs. You’re going to see what we call garbage goals.”

Said Phoenix left wing Keith Tkachuk: “I think [Hebert] knows we’re going to be driving to the net. He’s going to be facing a lot of shots and a lot of bodies in front of him.”

The Ducks hope the return of 6-foot-3 center Steve Rucchin, who missed the first three games of the series because of back spasms, will help clear some space for Hebert.

“His defensive pressure against the bigger Coyotes should help us,” Duck Coach Ron Wilson said.

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Hebert suffered only a strained right thumb when Coyote defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky collided with him early in the third period of Game 3. Hebert practiced Monday, experienced no swelling or discomfort and is expected to start tonight.

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The Ducks and Coyotes say they’re amazed by the number of penalties called thus far. After three games, the Coyotes have 84 penalty minutes and the Ducks 72. Chicago is the playoff leader with 108.

“I haven’t seen penalties called like this before in my playoff experience,” Duck winger Warren Rychel said. “Let the teams decide things. Let everybody play five on five--that’s usually the way it is in the playoffs.”

Said Tkachuk: “There have been lots of penalties. So far, it’s tough to get a flow to the game. But at least they’ve been consistent.”

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Duck right wing Teemu Selanne offered this opinion of the ice conditions at America West Arena: “Bad, bad, bad.”

He also believes the dimensions of the rink are smaller than at the Pond of Anaheim. “It is a small rink,” he said. “The neutral zone is smaller. The corners are smaller, too. But that’s no excuse.”

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Fox Sports West is expected to announce today it will televise Thursday’s Game 5 along with Fox Sports West 2, just as it did for Games 1 and 2. Fox Sports West is much more widely available than Fox Sports West 2.